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VERSES 



ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS. 



IpJULJrrnasrt/j jMi^ m^u 



" cui pauca relicti 
Jugera ruris erat; nee fertilis ilia juvencis 
Nee pecori oppc-rtuna seges, nee commoda Baccho. 
Hie rarum tarnen in dumis olus, albaque circum 
Lilia, verbenasque premens, vescumque papaver, 
Regum sequabat opes animis.**;' 



IContron : 
BURNS, OATES, & CO., 

17 & 18, PORTMAN STREET, AND 63, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
MDCCCLXVI1I. 



^Ji^^kthef^ Vfo&fy 



? 






LONDON.' 

gilbert and rivington, printers, 
st. John's square. 

96 

JAN 2 :345 

Serial Record Division 

The Library of Congress 

Copy. 



• ■ • 



>1 









■ , ' - 



TO EDWAKD BADELEY, ESQ. 



V 



My dear Badeley, 

I have not been without apprehension 
lest, in dedicating to you a number of poetical 
compositions, I should hardly be making a suitable 
offering to a member of a grave profession, which 
is especially employed in rubbing off the gloss with 
which imagination and sentiment invest matters 
of every-day life, and in reducing statements of 
fact to their legitimate dimensions. And, besides 
this, misgivings have not unnaturally come over 
me on the previous question ; viz., whether, after all, 
the contents of the volume are of sufficient import- 
ance to make it an acceptable offering to any friend 
whatever. 

And I must frankly confess, as to the latter 
difficulty, that certainly it never would have 
occurred to me thus formally to bring together 

it <TY -1 l\ ■ i \ 



IV DEDICATION. 

into one effusions which I have ever considered 
ephemeral, had I not lately found from publications 
of the day, what I never suspected before, that 
there are critics, and they strangers to me, who 
think well both of some of my compositions and 
of my power of composing. It is this commenda- 
tion, bestowed on me to my surprise as well as 
to my gratification, which has encouraged me just 
now to republish what I have from time to time 
written ; and if, in doing so, I shall be found, as is 
not unlikely, to have formed a volume of unequal 
merit, my excuse must be, that I despair of dis- 
covering any standard by which to discriminate 
aright between one poetical attempt and another. 
Accordingly, I am thrown, from the nature of the 
case, whether I will or no, upon my own judgment ; 
which, biassed by the associations of memory and 
by personal feelings, and measuring, perhaps, by 
the pleasure of verse-making, the worth of the 
verse, is disposed either to preserve them all, or to 
put them all aside. 

Here another contrast presents itself between 
the poetical art and the science of law. Your 
profession has its definitive authorities, its prescrip- 
tions, its precedents, and its principles, by which 
to determine the claim of its authors on public 



DEDICATION. Y 

attention ; but what philosopher will undertake to 
rule matters of taste, or to bring under one idea 
or method poems so different from each other as 
those of Homer, iEschylus, and Pindar ; of Terence, 
Ovid, Juvenal, and Martial ? What court is sitting, 
and what code is received, for the satisfactory 
determination of the poetical pretensions of writers 
of the day ? Whence can we hope to gain a 
verdict upon them, except from the unscientific 
tribunals of Public Opinion and of Time ? In 
Poetry, as in Metaphysics, a book is of necessity a 
venture. 

And now, coming to the suitableness of my 
offering, I know well, my dear Badeley, how little 
you will be disposed to criticize what comes to you 
from me, whatever be its intrinsic value. Less still 
in this case, considering that a chief portion of the 
volume grew out of that Religious Movement 
which you yourself, as well as I, so faithfully 
followed from first to last. And least of all, when 
I tell you that I wish it to be the poor expression, 
long-delayed, of my gratitude, never intermitted, 
for the great services which you rendered to me 
years ago, by your legal skill and affectionate zeal, 
in a serious matter in which I found myself in 
collision with the law of the land. Those services 



VI DEDICATION. 

I have ever desired in some public, however in- 
adequate, way to record ; and now, as time hurries 
on and opportunities are few, I am forced to ask 
you to let me acknowledge my debt to you as I can, 
since I cannot as I would. 

"We are now, both of us, in the decline of life : 
may that warm attachment which has lasted 
between us inviolate for so many years, be con- 
tinued, by the mercy of God, to the end of our 
earthly course, and beyond it ! 

I am, my dear Badeley, 

Affectionately yours, 

J. H. N. 
The Oratory, 

December 21,1867. ' ^ 



CONTENTS. 











PAQE 


I. Paraphrase of Isaiah, ch. lxiv. ... 1 


II. To F. W. N. on his Birthday 






4 


ill. Nature and Art 






8 


IT. Introduction to an Album 








. 12 


v. Snapdragon . 








. 13 


VI. The Trance of Time 








16 


vii. Consolations in Bereavement 








. 18 


VIII. A Picture 








. 21 


ix. Opusculum 








. 25 


x. A Voice from afar . 








. 27 


XI. The Hidden Ones . 








. 29 


XII. A Thanksgiving 








. 32 


xiii. Monks .... 








. 35 


xiv. Epiphany-eve 








. 39 


XV. The Winter Flower 








. 43 


xvi. Kind Remembrances 








. 44 


xvn. Seeds in the Air 








. 46 


xviii. The Pilgrim .... 








48 


xix. Home ..... 








49 


xx. The Brand of Cain 








50 



Vlll 



CONTENTS. 



xxi. Zeal and Love 
xxn. Persecution . 
xxiii. Zeal and Purity . 
xxiy. The Gift of Perseverance 
xxy. The Sign of the Cross 
xxyi. The Scars of Sin . 
xxvii. Angelic Guidance . 
xxviii. Substance and Shadow . 
xxix. Wanderings 
xxx. The Saint and the Hero 
xxxi. Private Judgment 
xxxii. The Isles of the Sirens 
xxxiii. Memory 
xxxiv. The Haven . 
xxxv. A Word in Season 
xxxvi. Fair Words 
xxxvu. England 
xxxviii. Moses 
xxxix. The Patient Church 
XL. Jeremias 
xli. Penance 
xlii. The Course of Truth 
XLin. Christmas without Christ 
xliv. Sleeplessness 
xlv. Abraham 
xlvi. The Greek Fathers 
xlvii. The Witness 
xlviii. The Death of Moses 
xlix. Melchizedek 



CONTENTS. 



L. Corcyra 
li. Transfiguration 
lii. Behind the Veil 
Lin. Judgment . 
uv. Sensitiveness 
lt. David and Jonathan 
lyi. Humiliation 
lyii. The Call of David 
iviii. A Blight . 
lix. Joseph 
lx. Isaac 
lxi. Reverses . 
lxii. Hope 
ixin. St. Paul at Melita 
lxiv. Messina 
lxv. Warnings . 
lxvi. Dreams 
lxyii. Temptation 
lxyiii. Our Future 
lxix. Heathenism 
lxx. Taormini . 
lxxi. Relics of Saints 
lxxii. Day-labourers 
lxxiii. Warfare 
lxxiy. Sacrilege . 
lxxv. Liberalism 
ixxyi. Declension . 
lxxvii. The Age to Come 
lxxyiii. External Religion 



CONTENTS. 



LXXIX. 

LXXX. 

LXXXI. 

LXXXII. 

LXXXIII. 

LXXXIY. 

LXXXV. 

LXXXVI. 

LXXXYII. 

LXXXYIII. 

LXXXIX. 

XC. 

XCI. 

XCII. 

XCIII. 

XCIV. 

xcv. 

XCVI. 

XCVII. 

XCVIII. 

XCIX. 

c. 

CI. 
CII. 

cm. 

CIV. 

cv. 

CYI. 
CVII. 



St. Gregory Nazianzen 

The Good Samaritan . 

The Pillar of the Cloud 

Jonas 

Faith against Sight 

Desolation . 

Zeal and Patience 

The Eeligion of Cain 

St. Paul . 

Flowers without Fruit 

Zeal and Meekness 

Vexations . 

The Church in Prayer 

The Wrath to Come 

Pusillanimity 

James and John 

Hora Novissima 

Progress of Unbelief 

Consolation 

Uzzah and Ohed-Edom 

The Gift of Tongues 

The Power of Prayer 

Semita Justorum 

The Elements 

Apostasy 

Judaism 

The Priestly Office 

Morning 

Evening 



CONTENTS. 



CVIII. 


AH 


Brmitage 


. 


CIX. 


The Married and the Single 


ex. 


Intercession of the Saints . 


CXI. 


Refrigerium 


. 


CXII. 


Hymn for Matins 


Sunday . 


CXIII. 




ditto 


ditto . 


CXIY. 




ditto 


Monday 


cxr. 




ditto 


Tuesday 


CXYI. 




ditto 


Wednesday 


CXYII. 




ditto 


Thursday 


CXYIII. 




ditto 


Friday . 


CXIX. 




ditto 


Saturday 


cxx. 


Hymn for Lauds, 


Sunday . 


CXXI. 




ditto 


ditto . 


CXXII. 




ditto 


Monday 


CXXIII. 




ditto 


Tuesday 


CXXIY. 




ditto 


Wednesday 


CXXY. 




ditto 


Thursday 


CXXYI. 




ditto 


Friday . 


CXXYII. 




ditto 


Saturday 


GXXYIII. 


Hymn for Prime 


. 


CXXIX. 


Hymn for Tierce 


. 


exxx. 


Hymn for Sext . 


. 


CXXXI. 


Hymn for None 


. 


CXXXII. 


Hymn for Vespers, Sunday 


CXXXIII. 




ditto 


Monday 


CXXXIY. 




ditto 


Tuesday 


CXXXY. 




ditto 


Wednesday 


CXXXYI. 




ditto 


Thursday 



X JJ CONTENTS. 




CXXXYil. Hymn for Vespers, Friday 




cxxxyiii. ditto Saturday . 




cxxxix. Hymn for Compline . 




cxl. Hymn for First Vespers, Advent . 




cxli. Hymn for Matins ditto . 




cxlii. Hymn for Lauds ditto . 




cxliii. Hymn for Matins, Transfiguratic 


n 


CXLiv. Hymn for Lands ditto 




cxly. Hymn for a Martyr . 




cxlyi. Hymn for a Confessor Bishop . 




cxlvii. Ethelwald 




CXLYin. Candlemas ...-■■ 




CXLix. The Pilgrim Queen . 




CL. The Month of Mary . 




cli. The Queen of the Seasons . 




clii. St. Valentine . 




cliii. St. Philip ]S T eri in his Mission 




CLIY. St. Philip in himself . 




CLY. St. Philip in his God . 




CLYI. Guardian Angel . 




CLYH. The Golden Prison . 




clyiii. Heathen Greece . 




CLix. A Martyr Convert 




CLX. St. Philip in his School 




CLXi. St. Philip in his Disciples . 




cxlii. For the Deari 




cxliii. The Two Worlds 




cxliy. The Dream of Gerontius . 





;%-%-! • ur-r 



i. 
PARAPHRASE 

OF ISAIAH, CHAP. LXIY. 

that Thou wouldest rend the breadth of sky, 
That veils Thy presence from the sons of men ! 

that, as erst Thou earnest from on high 

Sudden in strength, Thou so would'st come again ! 

Track'd out by judgments was Thy fiery path, 

Ocean and mountain withering in Thy wrath ! 

Then would Thy name — the Just, the Merciful — 
Strange dubious attributes to human mind, 

Appal Thy foes ; and kings, who spurn Thy rule, 
Then, then would quake to hopeless doom 
consign'd. 

See, the stout bows, and totters the secure, 

While pleasure's bondsman hides his head impure ! 

B 



2 PAKAPHKASE 

Come down ! for then shall from its seven bright 
springs 

To him who thirsts the draught of life be given ; 
Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard the things 

Which He hath purposed for the heirs of heaven, — 
A God of love, guiding with gracious ray 
Each meek rejoicing pilgrim on his way. 

Yea, though we err, and Thine averted face 
Rebukes the folly in Thine Israel done, 

Will not that hour of chastisement give place 
To beams, the pledge of an eternal sun ? 

Yes ! for His counsels to the end endure ; 

We shall be saved, our rest abideth sure. 

Lord, Lord ! our sins . . . our sins . . . unclean are we, 
Gross and corrupt ; our seeming- virtuous deeds 

Are but abominate ; all, dead to Thee, 

Shrivel, like leaves when summer's green recedes ; 

While, like the autumn blast, our lusts arise, 

And sweep their prey where the fell serpent lies. 

None, there is none to plead with God in prayer, 
Bracing his laggart spirit to the work 

Of intercession ; conscience- sprung despair, 
Sin- loving still, doth in each bosom lurk. 



Or ISAIAH, CHAP. LXIV. 3 

Guilt calls Thee to avenge ; — Thy risen ire 
Sears like a brand, we gaze and we expire. 

But now, Lord, our Father ! we are Thine, 
Design and fashion ; senseless while we lay, 

Thou, as the potter, with a Hand Divine, 

Didst mould Thy vessels of the sluggish clay. 

Mark not our guilt, Thy word of wrath recall, 

Lo, we are Thine by price, Thy people all ! 

Alas for Zion ! 'tis a waste ; — the fair, 

The holy place in flames ; — where once our sires 

Kindled the sacrifice of praise and prayer, 

Far other brightness gleams from Gentile fires. 

Low lies our pride ; — and wilt Thou self-deny 

Thy rescuing arm, unvex'd amid Thine Israel's cry? 

Brighton. September, 1821. 



B 2 



TO F. W. K., 



II. 

TO F. W. N. 

A BIBTHDAY OFFERING. 

Deab Frank, this morn has usher'd in 
The manhood of thy days ; 

A boy no more, thou must begin 
To choose thy future ways ; 

To brace thy arm, and nerve thy heart, 

For maintenance of a noble part. 

And thou a voucher fair hast given, 

Of what thou wilt achieve, 
Ere age has dimm'd thy sunlit heaven 

In weary life's chill eve ; 
Should Sovereign Wisdom in its grace 
Vouchsafe to thee so long a race. 

My brother, we are link'd with chain 
That time shall ne'er destroy ; 



A BIETHDAT OFFERING. 

Together we have been in pain, 

Together now in joy ; 
For duly I to share may claim 
The present brightness of thy name. 

My brother, 'tis no recent tie 

Which binds our fates in one, 

E'en from our tender infancy 

The twisted thread was spun ; — 

Her deed, who stored in her fond mind 

Our forms, by sacred love enshrin'd. 

In her affection all had share, 
All six, she lov'd them all ; 

Yet on her early-chosen Pair 
Did her full favour fall ; 

And we became her dearest theme, 

Her waking thought, her nightly dream. 

Ah ! brother, shall we e'er forget 
Her love, her care, her zeal ? 

We cannot pay the countless debt, 
But we must ever feel ; 

For through her earnestness were shed 

Prayer-purchased blessings on our head. 



TO F. W. K, 

Though in the end of days she stood, 
And pain and weakness came, 

Her force of thought was unsubdued, 
Her fire of love the same ; 

And e'en when memory fail'd its part, 

We still kept lodgment in her heart. 

And when her Maker from the thrall 
Of flesh her spirit freed, 

]No suffering 'companied the call, 
— In mercy 'twas decreed, — 

One moment here, the next she trod 

The viewless mansion of her God. 

Now then at length she is at rest, 

And, after many a woe, 
Eejoices in that Saviour blest, 

Who was her hope below ; 
Kept till the day when He shall own 
His saints before His Father's throne. 

So it is left for us to prove 

Her prayers were not in vain ; 

And that God's grace-according love 
Has fall'n as gentle rain, 



A EIETHDAT OFFEKI^G. 

Which, sent in the due vernal hour, 
Tints the young leaf, perfumes the flower. 

Dear Frank, we both are summon'd now 
As champions of the Lord ; — 

Enroll'd am I, and shortly thou 
Must buckle on thy sword ; 

A high employ, nor lightly given, 

To serve as messengers of heaven ! 

Deep in my heart that gift I hide ; 

I change it not away, 
For patriot-warrior's hour of pride, 

Or statesman's tranquil sway ; 
For poet's fire, or pleader's skill 
To pierce the soul and tame the will. 

! may we follow undismay'd 
Where'er our Grod shall call ! 

And may His Spirit's present aid 
Uphold us lest we fall ! 

Till in the end of days we stand, 

As victors in a deathless land. 

• 
Chiswiclc. June 27, 1826. 



NATURE AND AltT. 



II. 

NATURE AND ART. 

FOE AN ALBUM. 

" Man goeth forth 1 " with restless trust 

Upon his wealth of mind, 
As if in self a thing of dust 

Creative skill might find ; 
He schemes and toils ; stone, wood, and ore 
Subject or weapon of his power. 



By arch and spire, by tower-girt heights, 

He would his boast fulfil ; 
By marble births, and mimic lights, — 

Yet lacks one secret still ; 
Where is the master-hand shall give 
To breathe, to move, to speak, to live ? 

1 Psalm civ. [ciii.] 23. 



tfATTJKE AND ABT. 

take away this shade of might, 

The puny toil of man, 
And let rich Nature in my sight 
Unfold her varied plan ; 

1 cannot bear those sullen walls, 

Those eyeless towers, those tongueless halls. 

Art's labour' d toys of highest name 
Are nerveless, cold, and dumb ; 

And man is fitted but to frame 
A coffin or a tomb ; 

Well suit, when sense is pass'd away, 

Such lifeless works the lifeless clay. 

Here let me sit where wooded hills 
Skirt yon far-reaching plain ; 

While cattle bank its winding rills, 
And suns embrown its grain ; 

Such prospect is to me right dear, 

For freedom, health, and joy are here. 

There is a spirit ranging through 
The earth, the stream, the air ; 

Ten thousand shapes, garbs ever new, 
That restless One doth wear ; 



10 FATTJBE AND ABT. 

In colour, scent, and taste, and sound 
The energy of life is found. 

The leaves are rustling in the breeze, 
The bird renews her song ; 

From field to brook, o'er heath, o'er trees, 
The sunbeam glides along ; 

The insect, happy in its hour, 

Floats softly by, or sips the flower. 

Now dewy rain descends, and now 

Brisk showers the welkin shroud ; 

I care not, though with angry brow 
Frowns the red thunder-cloud; 

Let hail-storm pelt, and lightning harm, 

'Tis Nature's work, and has its charm. 

Ah ! lovely Nature ! others dwell 
Full favour' d in thy court ; 

I of thy smiles but hear them tell, 
And feed on their report, 

Catching what glimpse an Ulcombe yields 

To strangers loitering in her fields. 



NATURE AND ART. 1L 

I go where form has ne'er unbent 

The sameness of its sway ; 
Where iron rule, stern precedent, 

Mistreat the graceful day ; 
To pine as prisoner in his cell, 
And yet be thought to love it well. 

Yet so His high dispose has set, 

Who binds on each his part ; 
Though absent, I may cherish yet 

An Ulcombe of the heart ; 
Calm verdant hope divinely given, 
And suns of peace, and scenes of heaven ; — - 

A soul prepared His will to meet, 

Full fix'd His work to do ; 
Not labour' d into sudden heat, 

But inly born anew. — 
So living Nature, not dull Art, 
Shall plan my ways and rule my heart. 

Ulcombe. September, 1826. 



12 INTRODUCTION TO AN ALBUM. 



IV. 

INTRODUCTION 

TO AN ALBUM. 

I am a harp of many chords, and each 
Strung by a separate hand ; — most musical 
My notes, discoursing with the mental sense, 
Not the outward ear. Try them, for they bespeak 
Mild wisdom, graceful wit, and high-wrought taste, 
Fancy, and hope, and decent gaiety. 

Come, add a string to my assort of sounds ; 
Widen the compass of my harmony ; 
And join thyself in fellowship of name 
With those, whose courteous labour and fair gifts 
Have given me voice, and made me what I am. 

Brighton. April, 1827. 



SNAPDRAGON. 13 



T. 

SNAPDEAGOIST. 

A KIDDLE 
FOR A FLOWER-BOOK. 

I am rooted in the wall 

Of buttress' d tower or ancient hall ; 

Prison'd in an art-wrought bed, 

Cas'd in mortar, cramp'd with lead ; 

Of a living stock alone 

Brother of the lifeless stone. 

Else unprized, I have my worth 
On the spot that gives me birth ; 
Nature's vast and varied field 
Braver flowers than me will yield, 
Bold in form and rich in hue, 
Children of a purer dew ; 
Smiling lips and winning eyes 
Meet for earthly paradise. 



14 SNAPDKAGON. 

Choice are such, — and yet thou knowest 
Highest he whose lot is lowest. 
They, proud hearts, a home reject 
Framed by human architect ; 
Humble- 1 can bear to dwell 
Near the pale recluse's cell, 
And I spread my crimson bloom, 
Mingled with the cloister's gloom. 

Life's gay gifts and honours rare, 

Flowers of favour ! win and wear ! 

Rose of beauty, be the queen 

In pleasure's ring and festive scene. 

Ivy, climb and cluster, where 

Lordly oaks vouchsafe a stair. 

Yaunt, fair Lily, stately dame, 

Pride of birth and pomp of name. 

Miser Crocus, starved with cold, 

Hide in earth thy timid gold. 

Travell'd Dahlia, freely boast 

Knowledge brought from foreign coast. 

Pleasure, wealth, birth, knowledge, power, 

These have each an emblem flower ; 

So for me alone remains 

Lowly thought and cheerful pains. 



SISTAPDEAGG^T. 15 

Be it mine to set restraint 

On roving wish and selfish plaint ; 

And for man's drear haunts to leave 

Dewy morn and balmy eve. 

Be it mine the barren stone 

To deck with green life not its own, 

So to soften and to grace 

Of human works the rugged face. 

Mine, the Unseen to display 

In the crowded public way, 

Where life's busy arts combine 

To shut out the Hand Divine. 

A.h ! no more a scentless flower, 
By approving Heaven's high power, 
Suddenly my leaves exhale 
Fragrance of the Syrian gale. 
Ah ! 'tis timely comfort given 
By the answering breath of Heaven ! 
May it be ! then well might I 
In College cloister live and die. 

Ulcombe. October 2, 1827. 



1G THE TBAKCE OF TIME. 



YI. 

THE TKANCE OF TIME. 

Felix, qui potuit reruni cognoscere causas, 
Atque metus omnes, et inexorabile fatum 
Subjecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari ! 

ly childhood, when with eager eyes 
The season-measured year I view'd, 
All, garb'd in fairy guise, 
Pledged constancy of good. 

Spring sang of heaven ; the summer flowers 
Bade me gaze on, and did not fade ; 
Even suns o'er autumn's bowers 
Heard my strong wish, and stay'd. 

They came and went, the short-lived four ; 
Yet, as their varying dance they wove, 
To my young heart, each bore 
Its own sure claim of love. 



THE TRANCE OF TIME. 17 

Par different now ; — the whirling year 
Vainly my dizzy eyes pursue ; 
And its fair tints appear 
All blent in one dusk hue. 

Why dwell on rich autumnal lights, 
Spring-time, or winter's social ring ? 
Long days are fire-side nights, 
Brown autumn is fresh spring. 

Then what this world to thee, my heart ? 
Its gifts nor feed thee nor can bless. 
Thou hast no owner's part 
In all its fleetingness. 

The flame, the storm, the quaking ground, 
Earth's joy, earth's terror, nought is thine ; 
Thou must but hear the sound 
Of the still voice divine. 

priceless art ! O princely state ! 

E'en while by sense of change opprest, 
Within to antedate 

Heaven's Age of fearless rest, 

Highwood. October, 1827. 

C 



18 CONSOLATIONS IN BEKEAYEMENT. 



VII. 

CONSOLATIONS IN BEREAVEMENT. 

Death was full urgent with thee, Sister dear, 

And startling in his speed ; — 
Brief pain, then languor till thy end came near — 
Such was the path decreed, 
The hurried road 
To lead thy soul from earth to thine own God's 
abode. 



Death wrought with thee, sweet maid, im- 
patiently : — 

Yet merciful the haste 
That baffles sickness ; — dearest, thou didst die, 
Thou wast not made to taste 
Death's bitterness, 
Decline's slow-wasting charm, or fever's fierce 
distress. 



CONSOLATIONS IN BEREAVEMENT. 19 

Death came unheralded : — but it was well ; 

For so thy Saviour bore 
Kind witness, thou wast meet at once to dwell 
On His eternal shore ; 

All warning spared, 
For none He gives where hearts are for prompt 
change prepared. 

Death wrought in mystery ; both complaint and 
cure 

To human skill unknown : — 
God put aside all means, to make us sure 
It was His deed alone ; 

Lest we should lay 
Keproach on our poor selves, that thou wast caught 
away. 

Death urged as scant of time : — lest, Sister dear, 

We many a lingering day 
Had sicken'd with alternate hope and fear, 
The ague of delay ; 

Watching each spark 
Of promise quench'd in turn, till all our sky was 
dark. 

c 2 



20 CONSOLATIONS IN BEBEAVEMENT. 

Death came and went : — that so thy image might 

Our yearning hearts possess, 
Associate with all pleasant thoughts and bright, 

With youth and loveliness ; 
Sorrow can claim, 
Mary, nor lot nor part in thy soft soothing name. 

Joy of sad hearts, and light of downcast eyes ! 

Dearest, thou art enshrined 
In all thy fragrance in our memories ; 

For we must ever find 

Bare thought of thee 
Freshen this weary life, while weary life shall be. 

Oxford. April, 1828. 



A PICTTTKE. 2L 



VIII. 

A PXCTUKE. 

The maiden is not dead, but sleepeth. 

She is not gone ; — still in our sight 
That dearest maid shall live, 

In form as true, in tints as bright, 
As youth and health could give. 

Still, still is ours the modest eye ; 

The smile un wrought by art ; 
The glance that shot so piercingly 

Affection's keenest dart ; 



The thrilling voice, I ne'er could hear* 
But felt a joy and pain ; — 

A pride that she was ours, a fear 
Ours she might not remain ; 



22 A PICTURE. 

Whether the page divine called forth 

Its clear, sweet, tranquil tone, 
Or cheerful hymn, or seemly mirth 

In sprightlier measure shown ; 

The meek inquiry of that face, 

Musing on wonders found, 
As 'mid dim paths she sought to trace 

The truth on sacred ground ; 

The thankful sigh that would arise, 
When aught her doubts removed, 

Full sure the explaining voice to prize, 
Admiring while she loved ; 

The pensive brow, the world might see 

When she in crowds was found ; 
The burst of heart, the o'erflowing glee 

When only friends were round ; 

Hope's 'warmth of promise, prompt to fill 
The thoughts with good in store, 

Match' d with content's deep stream, which still 
Flow'd on, when hope was o'er ; 



A PICTURE. 23 

That peace, which, with its own bright day, 

Made cheapest sights shine fair ; 
That purest grace, which track' d its way 

Safe from aught earthly there. 

Such was she in the sudden hour 

That brought her Maker's call, — 
Proving her heart's self-mastering power 

Blithely to part with all, — 

All her eye loved, all her hand press'd 

With keen affection's glow, 
The voice of home, all pleasures best, 

All dearest thoughts below. 

From friend-lit hearth, from social board, 

All duteously she rose ; 
For faith upon the Master's word 

Can find a sure repose. 

And in her wonder up she sped, 

And tried relief in vain ; 
Then laid her down upon her bed 

Of languor and of pain, — 



24 A PICTTTBE. 

And waited till the solemn spell, 

(A ling'ring night and day,) 
Should fill its numbers, and compel 

Her soul to come away. 

Such was she then ; and such she is, 
Shrined in each mourner's breast ; 

Such shall she be, and more than this 
In promised glory blest ; 

When in due lines her Saviour dear 
His scattered saints shall range, 

And knit in love souls parted here, 
Where cloud is none, nor change. 

Oxford. August, 1828. 



OPUSCTJLTJM. 25 



IX. 

OPUSCULUM. 

FOR A YERY SMALL ALBUM. 

Fair Cousin, thy page 
is small to encage 
the thoughts which engage 
the mind of a sage, 
such as I am ; 

'Twere in teaspoon to take 
the whole G-enevese lake, 
or a lap-dog to make 
the white Elephant sac- 
-red in Siam. 

Yet inadequate though 
to the terms strange and so- 
-lemn that figure in po- 
-lysyllabical row 

in a treatise ; 



26 OPUSCULTTM. 

Still, true words and plain, 
of the heart, not the brain, 
in affectionate strain, 
this book to contain 
very meet is. 

So I promise to be 
a good Cousin to thee, 
and to keep safe the se- 
cret I heard, although e- 
-v'r y one know it ; 

With a lyrical air 
my kind thoughts I would dare, 
and offer whate'er 
beseems the news, were 
I a poet. 

Brighton. April, 1829. 



A VOICE FEOM AFAE. 27 



A VOICE FKOM AFAE. 

Weep not for me ; — 
Be blithe as wont, nor tinge with gloom 
The stream of love that circles home, 

Light hearts and free ! 

Joy in the gifts Heaven's bounty lends ; 

Nor miss my face, dear friends ! 



I still am near ; — 
Watching the smiles I prized on earth. 
Your converse mild, your blameless mirth ; 

Now too I hear 
Of whisper'd sounds the tale complete, 
Low prayers, and musings sweet. 



28 A YOICE FROM AFAR. 

A sea before 
The Throne is spread ; — its pure still glass 
Pictures all earth-scenes as they pass. 

We, on its shore, 
Share, in the bosom of our rest, 

God's knowledge, and are blest. 

Horsepath. September 29, 1829. 



THE HIDDEN ONES. 29 



XI. 

THE HIDDEN ONES. 

Hid are the saints of God ; — 
Uncertified by high angelic sign ; 
Nor raiment soft, nor empire's golden rod 

Marks them divine. 
Theirs but the unbought air, earth's parent sod ? 

And the sun's smile benign ; — 
Christ rears His throne within the secret heart, 

From the haughty world apart. 

They gleam amid the night, 
Chill sluggish mists stifling the heavenly ray ; 
Fame chants the while, — old history trims his light, 

Aping the day ; 
In vain ! staid look, loud voice, and reason's might 

Forcing its learned way, 
Blind characters ! these aid us not to trace 

Christ and His princely race. 



30 THE HIDDEN ONES. 

Yet not all-hid from those 
Who watch to see ; — -'neath their dull guise of earth, 
Bright bursting gleams unwittingly disclose 

Their heaven-wrought birth. 
Meekness, love, patience, faith's serene repose ; 

And the soul's tutor'd mirth, 
Bidding the slow heart dance, to prove her power 

O'er self in its proud hour. 



These are the chosen few, 
The remnant fruit of largely-seatter'd grace, 
God sows in waste, to reap whom He foreknew 

Of man's cold race ; 
Counting on wills perverse, in His clear view 

Of boundless time and space, 
He waits, by scant return for treasures given, 

To fill the thrones of heaven. 



Lord ! who can trace but Thou 
The strife obscure, 'twixt sin's soul-thralling spell 
And Thy sharp Spirit, now quench'd, reviving now ? 
Or who can tell, 



THE HIDDEN ONES. 31 

Why pardon's seal stands sure on David's brow, 

Why Saul and Demas fell ? 
Oh ! lest our frail hearts in the annealing break, 

Help, for Thy mercy's sake ! 

Horsepath. September, 1829. 



32 A THANKSGIVING. 



XII. 

A THANKSGIVING. 

Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 

Loed, in this dust Thy sovereign voice 
First quicken' d love divine ; 

I am all Thine, — Thy care and choice, 
My very praise is Thine. 



I praise Thee, while Thy providence 
In childhood frail I trace, 

For blessings given, ere dawning sense 
Could seek or scan Thy grace ; 



Blessings in boyhood's marvelling hour, 
Bright dreams, and fancyings strange : 

Blessings, when reason's awful power 
Gave thought a bolder range ; 



A THANKSGIVING. 33 

Blessings of friends, which to my door 
XTnask'd, unhoped, have come ; 

And, choicer still, a countless store 
Of eager smiles at home. 

Yet, Lord, in memory's fondest place 

I shrine those seasons sad, 
When, looking up, I saw Thy face 

In kind austereness clad. 

I would not miss one sigh or tear, 
Heart-pang, or throbhing brow ; 

Sweet was the chastisement severe, 
And sweet its memory now. 

Yes ! let the fragrant scars abide, 

Love-tokens in Thy stead, 
Faint shadows of the spear-pierced side 

And thorn-encompass'd head. 

And such Thy tender force be still, 
When self would swerve or stray, 

Shaping to truth the froward will 
Along Thy narrow way. 

D 



34 A THANKSGIVING. 

Deny me wealth ; far, far remove 
The lure of power or name ; 

Hope thrives in straits, in weakness love, 
And faith in this world's shame. 

Oxford. October, 1829. 



MONKS. 



XIII. 

MONKS. 

FOE ANOTHER SMALL ALBUM. 
(With lines on hinges to Jit it.) 

Why, dear Cousin, 

why 
Ask for verses, 
when a poet's 
fount of song is 

dry? 
Or, if aught be 

there, 
Harsh and chill, it 
ill may touch the 
hand of lady 

fair. 
Who can perfumed waters 

bring 
From a convent 



spring ? 



d 2 



36 ' MOXKS. 



" Monks in the olden 

time, 
" They were rhymesters ? "- 
they were rhymesters, 
but in Latin 

rhyme. 
Monks in the days of 

old 
Lived in secret, 
in the Church's 
kindly - shelterin g 

fold. 
No bland meditators 

they 
Of a courtly 

lav. 



" They had visions 

bright ?"- 
they had visions, 
yet not sent in 
slumbers soft and 

lisht. 



MOKKS. 37 

No ! a lesson 

stern 
First by vigils, 
fast, and penance, 
theirs it was to 

learn. 
This their soul-ennobling 

gain, 
Joys wrought out by 

pain. 



" When from home they 

stirr'd, 
" Sweet their voices ?" — 
still, a blessing 
closed their merriest 

word ; 
And their gayest 

smile 
Told of musings 
solitary, 
and the hallow' d 

aisle. 



38 MONKS. 

" Songsters ?" — hark ! they answer ! 

round 
Plaintive chantings 

sound ! 

Grey his cowled 

vest, 
Whose strong heart has 
pledged his service 
to the cloister 

blest. 
Duly garb'd is 

he, 
As the frost-work 
gems the branches 
of yon stately 

tree. 
? Tis a danger- thwarting 

spell, 
And it fits me 

well! 

Oxford. December, 1829. 



EPIPHANY-EYE. 39 



XIV. 

EPIPHANY-EVE. 

A BIRTHDAY OFFERING. 

Birthday gifts, with the early year, 

Lo ! we bring thee, Mary dear ! 

Prayer and praise upon thy death 

Twined together in a wreath, 

Grief and gladness, such as may 

Suit a solemn holiday. 

Christmas snow, for maiden's bloom 

Blanched in winter's sudden tomb ; 

Christmas berries, His red token 

Who that grave's stern seal hath broken ; 

These for thee the faithful heart, 

Due mementos, sets apart. 

'Twas a fast, that Eve of sorrow, 
Herald veil'd of glorious morrow. 
Speechless we sat ; and watch'd, to know 



40 A BIETHDAY OFFEKING. 

How it would be ; but time moved slow. 

Along that day of saered woe. 

Then came the Feast, and we were told 

Bravely of our best to bring, 
Myrrh, and frankincense, and gold, 

As our tribute to our King. 

Dearest, gentlest, purest, best ! 
Deep is thy mysterious rest, 
Now the solemn hours are over 
And the Angels round thee hover, 
With the fanning of their wings 
Keeping time to one who sings 
Of high themes consolatory, 
Of the All-loving and His glory, 
Of the age that has no ending, 
Of the day of thy ascending 
From those shades of paradise 
To the bright supernal skies. 

Thinkest of us, dearest, ever? 
Ah ! so be it nought can sever 
Spirit and life, the past and present, 
Still we yield thee musings pleasant. 



EPIPHANY-EVE. 41 

— God above, and we below ;— 
So thought ranges, to and fro. 
He, in sooth, by tutorings mild, 
From the rude clay shaped His child, 
Fiery trial, anguish chill, 
Served not here His secret will ; 
But His voice was low and tender, 
And so true was thy surrender, 
That the work in haste was done, 
Grace and nature blent in one. — 
Harmless thus, and not unmeet, 
To kiss the dear prints of thy feet, 
Tracing thus the narrow road 
All must tread, and Christ has trod. 

Loveliest, meekest, blithest, kindest ! 
Lead ! we seek the home thou findest ! 
Though thy name to us most dear, 
Go ! we would not have thee here. 
Lead, a guiding beacon bright 
To travellers on the Eve of Light. 
Welcome aye thy Star before us, 
Bring it grief or gladness o'er us ; — 
Keen regret and tearful yearning, 



42 A BIETHDAT OFFEBING. 

Whiles unfelt, and whiles returning ; — 
Or more gracious thoughts abiding, 
Fever- quelling, sorrow-chiding ; — 
Or, when day-light blessings fail, 
Transport fresh as spice-fraught gale, 
Sparks from thee, which oft have lighted 
Weary heart and hope benighted. 

I this monument would raise, 
Distant from the public gaze. 
Few will see it ; — few e'er knew thee ; 
But their beating hearts pursue thee, — 
And their eyes fond thoughts betoken, 
Though thy name be seldop spoken. 
Pass on, stranger, and despise it ! 
These will read, and these will prize it. 

Oxford. January 5, 1830. 



THE WINTER FLOWER. 43 



XT. 

THE WINTER FLOWER. 

A BIRTHDAY OFFERIKGL 
{For Music.) 

Bloom, beloved Flower ! — 
Unknown ; — 'tis no matter. 

Courts glitter brief hour, 
Crowds can but flatter. 

Plants in the garden 

See best the Sun's glory ; 
They miss the green sward in 

A conservatory. 

— PRIZED WHERE'ER ESOWtf.— 

Sure this is a blessing, 
Outrings the loud tone 

Of the dull world's caressing. 

Oxford. December 30, 1830. 



44 KIND REMEMBRANCES. 



XYI. 

KIND BEMEMBBANCES. 

5 Tis long, dear Annie, since we met, 
Yet deem not that my heart, 

For all that absence, can forget 
A kinsman's pious part. 

How oft on thee, a sufferer mild, 
My kindly thoughts I turn, 

He knows, upon whose altar piled 
The prayers of suppliants burn. 

I love thy name, admiring all 
Thy sacred heaven-sent pain : 

I love it, for it seems to call 
The Lost to earth again. 

Can I forget, she to thy need 

Her ministry supplied, 
Who now, from mortal duty freed, 

Serves at the Virgin's side ? 



KrN"D EEMEMEEANGES. 45 

What wouldest thou more ? Upon thy head 

A two-fold grace is pour'd ; — ■ 
Both in thyself, and for the dead, 

A witness of thy Lord ! 

Oxford. March, 1831. 



46 SEEDS m THE AIB. 

XVII. 

SEEDS m THE AIR. 

FOR AK ALBUM. 

Igneus est ollis vigor, et eoelestis origo 
Seminibus. 

Cotjld I hit on a theme 

To fashion my verse on, 
Not long would I seem 

A lack-courtesy person. 
But I have not the skill, 

Nor talisman strong, 
To summon at will 

The Spirit of song. — 
Bright thoughts are roaming 

Unseen in the air ; 
Like comets, their coming 

Is sudden and rare. 
They strike, and they enter, 

And light up the brain, 
Which thrills to its centre 

With rapturous pain. 



SEEDS IIST THE AIR 47 

Where the chance-seed 

Is piously nursed, 
Brighter succeed 

In the path of the first. — 
One sighs to the Muse, 

Or the sweet nightingale, 
One sips the night-dews 

Which moon-beams exhale. 
All this is a fiction ; 

I never could find 
A suitable friction 

To frenzy my mind. 
What use are empirics ? 

No gas on their shelf 
Can make one spout lyrics 

In spite of oneself ! 

Dartington. July 18, 1831. 



48 THE PILGBIM. 



XYITT. 

THE PILGRIM. 

EOE A1ST ALBUM. 

Theee stray'd awhile, amid the woods of Dart, 
One who could love them, but who durst not love. 

A vow had bound him, ne'er to give his heart 
To streamlet bright, or soft secluded grove, 
'Twas a hard humbling task, onwards to move 

JHis easy-captured eyes from each fair spot, 
With unattach'd and lonely step to rove 

O'er happy meads, which soon its print forgot ; — 

Yet kept he safe his pledge, prizing his pilgrim-lot. 

Partington. July 21, 1831. 



HOME. 49 



XIX. 

HOME. 

Where'ee I roam in this fair English land, 
The vision of a Temple meets my eyes : 
Modest without ; within, all-glorious rise 
Its love-encluster'd columns, and expand 
Their slender arms. Like olive-plants they stand, 
Each answ'ring each, in home's soft sympathies, 
Sisters and brothers. At the altar sighs 
Parental fondness, and with anxious hand 
Tenders its offering of young vows and prayers. 
The same, and not the same, go where I will, 
The vision beams ! ten thousand shrines, all one 
Dear fertile soil ! what foreign culture bears 
Such fruit ? And I through distant climes may run 
My weary round, yet miss thy likeness still. 

Oxford. 'November 16, 1832. 



50 THE BRAND OF CAIE". 



XX. 

THE BRAND OF CAIN. 

I bear upon my brow the sign 

Of sorrow and of pain ; 
Alas ! no hopeful cross is mine, 

It is the brand of Cain. 

The course of passion, and the fret 

Of godless hope and fear, — 
Toil, care, and guilt, — their hues have set, 

And fix'd their sternness there. 

Saviour ! wash out th' imprinted shame ; 

That I no more may pine, 
Sin's martyr, though not meet to claim 

Thy cross, a saint of Thine. 

Oxford. November 18, 1832. 



ZEAL AIST) LOVE. 51 



XXI. 

ZEAL AND LOVE. 

And would' st thou reach, rash scholar mine, 

Love's high unruffled state ? 
Awake ! th y easy dreams resign, 

First learn thee how to hate :— 

Hatred of sin, and Zeal, and Fear, 

Lead up the Holy Hill ; 
Track them, till Charity appear 

A self-denial still. 

Dim is the philosophic flame, 

By thoughts severe unfed : 
Book-lore ne'er served, when trial came, 

Nor gifts, when faith was dead. 

Oxford. Novemher 20, 1832. 



52 PEBSECUTION. 



XXII. 

PERSECUTION. 

" And the woman fled into the wilderness/' 

Sat, who is lie in deserts seen, 

Or at the twilight hour ? 
Of garb austere, and dauntless mien, 
Measured in speech, in purpose keen, 
Calm as in Heaven he had been, 

Yet blithe when perils lower. 



My Holy Mother made reply, 
" Dear child, it is my Priest. 

The world has cast me forth, and I 

Dwell with wild earth and gusty sky ; 

He bears to men my mandates high, 
And works my sage behest. 



PEBSECUTION. 53 

Another day, dear child, and thou 

Shalt join his sacred band. 
Ah ! well I deem, thou shrinkest now 
From urgent rule and severing vow ; 
Gay hopes flit round, and light thy brow : 

Time hath a taming hand !" 

Oxford. November 22, 1832. 



54 ZEAL AND PUEITT. 



XXIII. 

ZEAL KND PURITY. 

" Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord." 

Thou to wax fierce 

In the cause of the Lord, 
To threat and to pierce 

With the heavenly sword ! 
Anger and Zeal, 

And the Joy of the brave, 
Who bade thee to feel, 

Sin's slave. 

The Altar's pure flame 

Consumes as it soars ; 
Faith meetly may blame, 

For it serves and adores. 
Thou warnest and smitest ! 

Yet Christ must atone 
For a soul that thou slightest — 

Thine own. 
Oxford, November 23, 1832. 



THE GIFT OF PERSEVERANCE. 55 



XXIV. 

THE GIFT OF PERSEVERANCE. 

Once, as I brooded o'er my guilty state, 
A fever seized me, duties to devise, 
To buy me interest in my Saviour's eyes ; 
Not that His love I would extenuate, 
But scourge and penance, masterful self-hate, 
Or gift of cost, served by an artifice 
To quell my restless thoughts and envious sighs 
And doubts, which fain heaven's peace would ante- 
date. 
Thus as I tossed, He said : " E'en holiest deeds 
Shroud not the soul from God, nor soothe its needs ; 
Deny thee thine own fears, and wait the end !" 
Stern lesson ! Let me con it day by day, 
And learn to kneel before the Omniscient Ray, 
Nor shrink, when Truth's avenging shafts descend ! 

Oxford. November 23, 1832. 



56 THE SIGN OF THE CEOSS. 



XXT. 

THE SIGN OF THE CEOSS. 

Whene'er across this sinful flesh of mine 

I draw the Holy Sign, 
All good thoughts stir within me, and renew 

Their slumbering strength divine ; 
Till there springs up a courage high and true 

To suffer and to do. 

And who shall say, but hateful spirits around, 

For their brief hour unbound, 
Shudder to see, and wail their overthrow ? 

While on far heathen ground 
Some lonely Saint hails the fresh odour, though 

Its source he cannot know. 

Oxford. November 25, 1832. 



THE SCABS OP SIN. 57 



XXVI. 

THE SCAES OF SIN. 

My smile is bright, my glance is free, 

My voice is calm and clear ; 
Dear friend, I seem a type to thee 

Of holy love and fear. 

But I am scann'd by Eyes unseen, 

And these no saint surround ; 
That mete what is by what has been, 

And joy the lost is found. 

Erst my good Angel shrank to see 

My thoughts and ways of ill ; 
And now he scarce dare gaze on me, 

Scar-seam'd and crippled still. 

Iffley. November 29, 1832. 



58 ANGELIC GUIDANCE. 



XXYII. 

ANGELIC GUIDANCE. 

Aee these the tracks of some unearthly Friend, 
His foot-prints, and his vesture-skirts of light, 
Who, as I talk with men, conforms aright 
Their sympathetic words, or deeds that blend 
With my hid thought ; — or stoops him to attend 
My doubtful-pleading grief; — or blunts the might 
Of ill I see not ; — or in dreams of night 
Figures the scope, in which what is will end ? 
Were I Christ's own, then fitly might I call 
That vision real ; for to the thoughtful mind 
That walks with Him, He half unveils His face ; 
But, when on earth-stain'd souls such tokens fall, 
These dare not claim as theirs what there they 

find, 
Yet, not all hopeless, eye His boundless grace. 

Whitchurch, December 3, 1832. 



SUBSTANCE AND SHADOW. 59 



XXVIII. 

SUBSTANCE AND SHADOW. 

They do but grope in learning's pedant round, 
Who on the fantasies of sense bestow 
An idol substance, bidding us bow low 
Before those shades of being which are found, 
Stirring or still, on man's brief trial-ground ; 

As if such shapes and moods, which come and go, 
Had ought of Truth or Life in their poor show, 
To sway or judge, and skill to sain or wound. 
Son of immortal seed, high-destined Man ! 
Know thy dread gift, — a creature, yet a cause : 
Each mind is its own centre, and it draws 
Home to itself, and moulds in its thought's span 
Ail outward things, the vassals of its will, 
Aided by Heaven, by earth unthwarted still. 

Falmouth. December 7, 1832. 



60 WAKDEEINGS. 



XXIX. 

WANDEBINGS. 

Eee yet I left home's youthful shrine, 
My heart and hope were stored 

Where first I caught the rays divine, 
And drank the Eternal Word. 



I went afar ; the world unroll' d 
Her many-pictured page ; 

I stored the marvels which she told, 
And trusted to her gage. 



Her pleasures quaff' d, I sought awhile 
The scenes I prized before ; 

But parent's praise and sister's smile 
Stirr'd my cold heart no more. 



WAKDEEINGS. 61 

So ever sear, so ever cloy 

Earth's favours as they fade ; 
Since Adam lost for one fierce joy 

His Eden's sacred shade. 

Off the Lizard. December 8, 1832. 



62 THE SAINT AND THE HEEO. 



XXX. 

THE SAINT AND THE HEEO. 

aged Saint ! far off I heard 
The praises of thy name ; — 

Thy deed of power, thy prudent word, 
Thy zeal's triumphant flame. 

1 came and saw ; and, having seen, 
Weak heart, I drew offence 

From thy prompt smile, thy simple mien, 
Thy lowly diligence. 

The Saint's is not the Hero's praise ; — 

This I have found, and learn 
Nor to malign Heaven's humblest ways, 

Nor its least boon to spurn. 

Bay of Biscay, December 10, 1832. 



PRIVATE JUDGMENT. 63 



XXXI. 

PEIYATE JUDGMENT. 

Poor wand'rers, ye are sore distress'd 
To find that path which Christ has bless'd 

Track'd by His saintly throng ; 
Each claims to trust his own weak will, 
Blind idol ! — so ye languish still, 

All wranglers and all wrong. 

He saw of old, and met your need, 
Granting you prophets of His creed, 

The throes of fear to swage ; 
They fenced the rich bequest He made, 
And sacred hands have safe convey'd 

Their charge from age to age. 

Wand'rers ! come home ! obey the call ! 
A mother pleads, who ne'er let fall 



G± PBIVATE JUDGMENT. 

One grain of Holy Truth ; 
Warn you and win she shall and must, 
For now she lifts her from the dust, 

To reign as in her youth ! 

Off Cape Ortegal. December 11, 1832. 



THE ISLES OF THE SIBENS. 65 



XXXII. 

THE ISLES OF THE SIEENS. 

Cease, Stranger, cease those piercing notes ? 

The craft of Siren choirs ; 
Hush the seductive voice, that floats 

Upon the languid wires. 

Music's ethereal fire was given, 

Not to dissolve our clay, 
But draw Promethean beams from heaven, 

And purge the dross away. 

Weak self! with thee the mischief lies, 

Those throbs a tale disclose ; 
Nor age nor trial has made wise 

The Man of many woes. 

Off Lisbon. December 13, 1832. 



66 MEMOET. 



XXXIII. 

MEMOEY. 

My home is now a thousand miles away ; 
Yet in my thoughts its every image fair 
Rises as keen, as I still linger'd there, 
And, turning me, could all I loved survey. 
And so, upon Death's unaverted day, 
As I speed upwards, I shall on me bear, 
And in no breathless whirl, the things that were, 
And duties given, and ends I did obey. 
And, when at length I reach the Throne of Power, 
Ah ! still unscared, I shall in fulness see 
The vision of my past innumerous deeds, 
My deep heart- courses, and their motive-seeds, 
So to gaze on till the red dooming hour. 
Lord, in that strait, the Judge ! remember me ! 

Off Cape Trafalgar. December 15, 1832. 



THE HAVEN. 67 



XXXIV. 

THE HAVEN. 

Whence is this awe, by stillness spread 

O'er the world-fretted soul ? 

Wave rear'd on wave its godless head, 

While my keen bark, by breezes sped, 

Dash'd fiercely through the ocean bed, 

And chafed towards its goal. 

But now there reigns so deep a rest, 

That I could almost weep. 
Sinner ! thou hast in this rare guest 
Of Adam's peace a figure blest ; 
'Tis Eden seen, though not possess'd, 

Which cherub-flames still keep. 

Gibraltar. December 16, 1832. 



E 2 



68 A WORD IN SEASON. 



XXXY. 

A WOKD IN SEASON. 

O Lord ! when sin's close-marshall'd line 

Assails Thy witness on his way, 
How should he raise Thy glorious sign, 
And how Thy will display ? 

Thy holy Paul, with soul of flame, 

Eose on Mars' hill, a soldier lone ; 
Shall I thus speak th' Atoning Name, 
Though with a heart of stone ? 

" Not so," He said : " hush thee, and seek, 

With thoughts in prayer and watchful eyes, 
My seasons sent for thee to speak, 
And use them as they rise." 

Gibraltar. December 17, 1832. 



FAIR WORDS. 69 



XXXVI. 



FAIK WOEDS. 



Tht words are good, and freely given, 
As though thou felt them true ; 

Friend, think thee well, to hell or heaven 
A serious heart is due. 

It pains thee sore, man's will should swerve 

In His true path divine ; 
And yet thou ventur'st nought to serve 

Thy neighbour's weal nor thine. 

Beware ! such words may once be said, 

Where shame and fear unite ; 
But, spoken twice, they mark instead 

A sin against the light. 

Gibraltar. December 17, 1832. 



70 ENGLAND. 



XXXVII. 



ENGLAND. 



Ttee of the West, and glorying in the name 

More than in Faith's pure fame ! 
trust not crafty fort nor rock renown'd 

Earn'd upon hostile ground ; 
Wielding Trade's master-keys, at thy proud will 
To lock or loose its waters, England ! trust not still. 

Dread thine own power! Since haughty Babel's 
prime, 

High towers have been man's crime. 
Since her hoar age, when the huge moat lay bare, 

Strongholds have been man's snare. 
Thy nest is in the crags ; ah ! refuge frail ! 
Mad counsel in its hour, or traitors, will prevail. 

He who scann'd Sodom for His righteous men 
Still spares thee for thy ten ; 



ENGLAND. 71 

But, should vain tongues the Bride of Heaven defy, 

He will not pass thee by ; 
For, as earth's kings welcome their spotless guest, 
So gives He them by turn, to suffer or be blest. 

At Sea. December 18, 1832. 



72 MOSES. 



XXXVIII. 

MOSES. 

Moses, the patriot fierce, became 

The meekest man on earth, 
To show ns how love's quick'ning flame 

Can give our souls new birth. 

Moses, the man of meekest heart, 

Lost Canaan by self-will, 
To show, where Grace has done its part, 

How sin defiles us still. 

Thou, who hast taught me in Thy fear, 

Yet seest me frail at best, 
O grant me loss with Moses here, 

To gain his future rest ! 

At Sea. December 19, 1832. 



THE PATIENT CHURCH. 73 



XXXIX. 

THE PATIENT CHUECH. 

Bide thou thy time ! 
Watch with meek eyes the race of pride and crime, 
Sit in the gate, and be the heathen's jest, 

Smiling and self-possest. 
thou, to whom is pledged a victor's sway, 

Bide thou the victor's day ! 

Think on the sin 1 
That reap'd the unripe seed, and toil'd to win 
Foul history-marks at Bethel and at Dan ; 

No blessing, but a ban ; 
Whilst the wise Shepherd 2 hid his heaven-told fate, 

Nor reck'd a tyrant's hate. 

Such loss is gain : 
Wait the bright Advent that shall loose thy chain ! 

1 Jeroboam. 2 David. 



74 THE PATIENT CHTTBCH. 

E'en now the shadows break, and gleams divine 

Edge the dim distant line. 
When thrones are trembling, and earth's fat ones 
quail, 

True Seed ! thou shalt prevail ! 



Off Algiers. December 20, 1832. 



JEREMIAS. ib 

XL. 

JEEEMIAS. 

■ e Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging -place of way- 
faring men ; that I might leave my people, and go from 
them!" 

" Woe's me ! " the peaceful prophet cried, 

" Spare me this troubled life ; 
To stem man's wrath, to school his pride, 

To head the sacred strife ! 

" O place me in some silent vale, 
Where groves and flowers abound ; 

Nor eyes that grudge, nor tongues that rail, 
Vex the truth-haunted ground !" 

If his meek spirit err'd, opprest, 

That God denied repose, 
What sin is ours, to whom Heaven's rest 

Is pledged, to heal earth's woes ? 

Off Galita. December 22, 1832. 



76 PEKANCE . 



XLI. 

PENANCE. 

Moetal ! if e'er thy spirits faint, 

By grief or pain opprest, 
Seek not vain hope, or sour complaint, 

To cheer or ease thy breast ; 

But view thy bitterest pangs as sent 

A shadow of that doom, 
Which is the soul's just punishment 

In its own guilt's true home. 

Be thine own judge : hate thy proud heart ; 

And while the sad drops flow, 
E'en let thy will attend the smart, 

And sanctify thy woe. 

Off Pantellaria. December 23, 1832. 



THE COURSE OE TRUTH. 77 



XLII. 

THE COUESE OF TEUTH. 

" Him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly, 
not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of 
God." 

When royal Truth, released from mortal throes, 
Burst His brief slumber, and triumphant rose, 
111 had the Holiest sued 
A patron multitude, 
Or courted Tetrarch's eye, or claim'd to rule 
By the world's winning grace, or proofs from learned 
school. 

But, robing Him in viewless air, He told 
His secret to a few of meanest mould ; 
They in their turn imparted 
The gift to men pure-hearted, 
While the brute many heard His mysteries high, 
As some strange fearful tongue, and crouch'd, they 
knew not why. 



78 THE COTJESE OF TETJTH. 

Still is the might of Truth, as it has been : 
Lodged in the few, obey'd, and yet unseen. 
Rear'd on lone heights, and rare, 
His saints their watch-flame bear, 
And the mad world sees the wide-circling blaze, 
Yain searching whence it streams, and how to 
quench its rays. 

Malta. December 24,1832. 



CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHEIST. 



XLIII. 

CHEISTMAS WITHOUT CHEIST. 

How can I keep my Christmas feast 

In its due festive show, 
Reft of the sight of the High Priest 

From whom its glories flow ? 

I hear the tuneful bells around, 

The blessed towers I see ; 
A stranger on a foreign ground, 

They peal a fast for me. 

Britons ! now so brave and high, 

How will ye weep the day 
When Christ in judgment passes by, 

And calls the Bride away ! 



80 CHEISTMAS WITHOUT CHEIST. 

Your Christmas then will lose its mirth, 
Your Easter lose its bloom : — 

Abroad, a sceue of strife and dearth ; 
Within, a cheerless home ! 

Malta. December 25, 1832. 



SLEEPLESSNESS. 81 



XLIY. 



SLEEPLESSNESS. 

Unweakied Glod, before whose face 

The night is clear as day, 
Whilst we, poor worms, o'er life's scant race 

Now creep, and now delay, 
We with death's foretaste alternate 
Our labour's dint and sorrow's weight, 
Save in that fever-troubled state 

Where pain or care has sway. 

Dread Lord ! Thy glory, watchfulness, 

Is but disease in man ; 
We to our cost our bounds transgress 

In Thy eternal plan : 
Pride grasps the powers by Thee display'd, 
Yet ne'er the rebel effort made 
But fell beneath the sudden shade 

Of nature's withering ban. 

Malta. December 26, 1832. 



82 ABRAHAM. 



XLY. 

ABRAHAM. 

The better portion didst thou choose, Great Heart, 
Thy God's first choice, and pledge of Gentile 

grace ! 
Faith's truest type, he with unruffled face 

Bore the world's smile, and bade her slaves depart ; 

Whether, a trader, with no trader's art, 

He buys in Canaan his last resting-place, — 
Or freely yields rich Siddim's ample space, — 

Or braves the rescue, and the battle's smart, 

Yet scorns the heathen gifts of those he saved. 

happy in their soul's high solitude, 

Who commune thus with God, and not with 
earth ! 

Amid the scofnngs of the wealth-enslaved, 

A ready prey, as though in absent mood 

They calmly move, nor reck the unmanner'd 
mirth. 

At Sea. December 27, 1832. 



THE GREEK FATHERS. 83 



XLYI. 

THE GEEEK FATHEES. 

Let heathens sing thy heathen praise, 
Fall'n Greece ! the thought of holier days 

In my sad heart abides ; 
For sons of thine in Truth's first hour 
Were tongues and weapons of His power, 
Born of the Spirit's fiery shower, 

Our fathers and our guides. 



All thine is Clement's varied page ; 
And Dionysius, ruler sage, 

In days of doubt and pain ; 
And Origen with eagle eye ; 
And saintly Basil's purpose high 
To smite imperial heresy, 

And cleanse the Altar's stain. 
G 2 



84 THE QREEK FATHERS. 

From thee the glorious Preacher came, 
With soul of zeal and lips of flame, 

A court's stern martyr-guest ; 
And thine, inexhaustive race ! 
Was Nazianzen's heaven-taught grace ; 
And royal-hearted Athanase, 

With Paul's own mantle blest. 

Off Zante. December 28, 1832. 



THE WITNESS. 85 



XLVII. 

THE WITNESS. 

How shall a child of God fulfil 
His vow to cleanse his soul from ill, 
And raise on high his baptism-light, 
Like Aaron's seed in vestment white, 
And holy-hearted Nazarite ? 

First, let him shun the haunts of vice, 
Sin-feast, or heathen sacrifice ; 
Fearing the board of wealthy pride, 
Or heretic, self-trusting guide, 
Or where the adulterer's smiles preside. 

Next, as he threads the maze of men, 
Aye must he lift his witness, when 
A sin is spoke in Heaven's dread face, 
And none at hand of higher grace 
The Cross to carry in his place. 



86 THE WITNESS. 

But if lie hears and sits him still, 
First, he will lose his hate of ill ; 
Next, fear of sinning, after hate ; 
Small sins his heart then desecrate ; 
And last, despair persuades to great. 

Off Ithaca. December 30, 1832. 



THE DEATH OF MOSES. 87 



XL VIII. 

THE DEATH OF MOSES. 

My Father's hope ! my childhood's dream ! 

The promise from on high ! 
Long waited for ! its glories beam 

Now when my death is nigh. 



My death is come, but not decay ; 

Nor eye nor mind is dim ; 
The keenness of youth's vigorous day 

Thrills in each nerve and limb. 



Blest scene ! thrice welcome after toil — 

If no deceit I view ; 
might my lips but press the soil, 

And prove the vision true ! 



5 THE DEATH OF MOSES. 

Its glorious heights, its wealthy plains. 

Its many-tinted groves, 
They call ! but He my steps restrains 

Who chastens whom He loves. 

Ah ! now they melt . . . they are but shades . . 

I die ! — yet is no rest, 
Lord ! in store, since Canaan fades 

But seen, and not possest ? 

Off Ithaca. December 30, 1832. 



MELCHIZEDEE - . 89 

XLIX. 

MELCHIZEDEK. 

"Without father, without mother, without descent; having 
neither beginning of days, nor end of life." 

Thrice bless'd are they, who feel their loneliness ; 

To whom nor voice of friends nor pleasant scene 

Brings that on which the sadden' d heart can lean ; 
Yea, the rich earth, garb'd in her daintiest dress 
Of light and joy, doth but the more oppress, 

Claiming responsive smiles and rapture high ; 

Till, sick at heart, beyond the veil they fly, 
Seeking His Presence, who alone can bless. 
Such, in strange days, the weapons of Heaven's 

grace ; 
When, passing o'er the high-born Hebrew line, 
He forms the vessel of His vast design ; 
Fatherless, homeless, reft of age and place, 
Sever'd from earth, and careless of its wreck, 
Born through long woe His rare Melchizedek. 

Corfu. January 5, 1833. 



90 CORCYBA. 



L. 



COECYEA. 

I sat beneath an olive's branches grey, 
And gazed upon the site of a lost town, 
By sage and poet raised to long renown ; 

Where dwelt a race that on the sea held sway, 

And, restless as its waters, forced a way 
For civil strife a hundred states to drown. 
That multitudinous stream we now note down 

As though one life, in birth and in decay. 

But is their being's history spent and run, 

Whose spirits live in awful singleness, 

Each in its self-form'd sphere of light or gloom ? 

Henceforth, while pondering the fierce deeds then 
done, 

Such reverence on me shall its seal impress 

As though I corpses saw, and walk'd the tomb. 

At Sea. January 7, 1833. 



TRANSFIGURATION. 91 



LI. 

TKANSFIGITKATIOlSr. 

" They glorified God in me." 

I saw thee once, and nought discern'd 

For stranger to admire ; 
A serious aspect, but it burn'd 

With no unearthly fire. 

Again I saw, and I confess' d 

Thy speech was rare and high ; 

And yet it vex'd my burden'd breast, 
And scared, I knew not why. 

I saw once more, and awe-struck gazed 

On face, and form, and air ; 
Grod's living glory round thee blazed— 

A Saint — a Saint was there ! 

Off Zante. January 8, 1833. 



92 BEHIKD THE YELL. 



LII. 



BEHIND THE VEIL. 

Bantsh'd the House of sacred rest. 

Amid a thoughtless throng, 
At length I heard its creed confess' d, 

And knelt the saints among. 

Artless his strain and unadorn'd, 
Who spoke Christ's message there ; 

But what at home I might have scorn'd, 
Now charm'd my famish'd ear. 

Lord, grant me this abiding grace, 
Thy Word and sons to know ; 

To pierce the veil on Moses' face, 
Although his speech be slow. 

At Sea. January 9, 1833. 



JUDGMENT. 93 



Liir. 
JUDGMENT. 

If e'er I fall beneath Thy rod, 

As through life's snares I go, 
Save me from David's lot, G-od ! 

And choose Thyself the woe. 

How should I face Thy plagues ? which scare, 

And haunt, and stun, until 
The heart or sinks in mute despair, 

Or names a random ill. 

If else . . . then guide in David's path, 

Who chose the holier pain ; 
Satan and man are tools of wrath, 

An Angel's scourge is gain. 

Of Malta. January 10, 1833. 



94 SENSITIVENESS. 



LIV. 

SENSITIVENESS. 

Time was, I shrank from what was right 
From fear of what was wrong ; 

I would not brave the sacred fight, 
Because the foe was strong. 

But now I cast that finer sense 

And sorer shame aside ; 
Such dread of sin was indolence, 

Such aim at Heaven was pride. 

So, when my Saviour calls, I rise 

And calmly do my best ; 
Leaving to Him, with silent eyes 

Of hope and fear, the rest. 



SENSITIVENESS. 95 

I step, I mount where He has led ; 

Men count my haltings o'er ; — 
I know them ; yet, though self I dread, 

I love His precept more. 

Lazaret. Malta. January 15, 1833. 



96 DATID AND JONATHAN". 



LT. 

DAVID AND JONATHAN. 

(< Thy love to Hie was wonderful, passing the love of women.'' 

heaet of fire ! misjudged by wilful man, 

Thou flower of Jesse's race ! 
What woe was thine, when thou and Jonathan 

Last greeted face to face ! 
He doom'd to die, thou on us to impress 
The portent of a blood-stain'd holiness. 



Yet it was well : — for so, 'mid cares of rule 

And crime's encircling tide, 
A spell was o'er thee, zealous one, to cool 

Earth-joy and kingly pride ; 
With battle-scene and pageant, prompt to blend 
The pale calm spectre of a blameless friend. 



DAVID AND JONATHAN. 97 

Ah ! had he lived, before thy throne to stand, 

Thy spirit keen and high 
Sure it had snapp'd in twain love's slender band, 

So dear in memory ; 
Paul, of his comrade reft, the warning gives, — 
He lives to us who dies, he is but lost who lives. 

Lazaret, Malta. January 16, 1833. 



08 HUMILIATIOIS". 



LYI. 

HUMILIATION. 

I have been honour' d and obey'd, 

I have met scorn and slight ; 
And my heart loves earth's sober shade, 

More than her laughing light. 

Eor what is rule but a sad weight 

Of duty and a snare ? 
What meanness, but with happier fate 

The Saviour's Cross to share ? 

This my hid choice, if not from heaven, 
Moves on the heavenward line ; 

Cleanse it, good Lord, from earthly leaven, 
And make it simply Thine. 

Lazaret, Malta. January 16, 1833. 



THE CALL OF DAVID. 99 



LYII. 

THE CALL OF DAYXD. 

4 And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he/' 

Latest born of Jesse's race, 
Wonder lights thy bashful face, 
While the Prophet's gifted oil 
Seals thee for a path of toil. 
We, thy Angels, circling round thee, 
Ne'er shall find thee as we found thee, 
When thy faith first brought us near 
To quell the lion and the bear. 

Go ! and mid thy flocks awhile 
At thy doom of greatness smile ; 
Bold to bear God's heaviest load, 
Dimly guessing of the road, — 
h 2 



100 THE CALL OF DAVID. 

Rocky road, and scarce ascended, 
Though thy foot be angel-tended. 



Twofold praise thou shalt attain, 
In royal court and battle plain ; 
Then conies heart-ache, care, distress, 
Blighted hope, and loneliness ; 
Wounds from friend and gifts from foe, 
Dizzied faith, and guilt, and woe ; 
Loftiest aims by earth defiled, 
Gleams of wisdom sin-beguiled, 
Sated power's tyrannic mood, 
Counsels shared with men of blood, 
Sad success, parental tears, 
And a dreary gift of years. 



Strange, that guileless face and form 
To lavish on the scarring storm ! 
Yet we take thee in thy blindness, 
And we buffet thee in kindness ; 
Little chary of thy fame, — 
Dust unborn may bless or blame, — 



THE CALL OF DAYID. 101 

But we mould thee for the root 
Of man's promised healing Fruit, 
And we mould thee hence to rise, 
As our brother, to the skies. 

Lazaret, Malta. January 18, 1833. 



102 A BLIGHT. 

LYIII. 

A BLIGHT. 

What time my heart unfolded its fresh leaves 
In springtime gay, and scatter' d flowers around, 
A whisper warn'd of earth's unhealthy ground, 
And all that there love's light and pureness grieves ; 
Sun's ray and canker-worm, 
And sudden- whelming storm ; — 
But, ah ! my self-will smiled, nor reck'd the gracious 
sound. 

So now defilement dims life's memory-springs ; 
I cannot hear an eariy-cherish'd strain, 
But first a joy, and then it brings a pain — 
Fear, and self-hate, and vain remorseful stings : 
Tears lull my grief to rest, 
Not without hope, this breast 
May one day lose its load, and youth yet bloom 
again. 

Lazaret, Malta. January 19, 1833. 



JOSEPH. 103 



LIX. 

JOSEPH. 



pubest Symbol of the Eternal Son ! 

Who dwelt in thee, as in some sacred shrine, 
To draw hearts after thee, and make them thine ; 
Not parent only by that light was won, 
And brethren crouch'd who had in wrath begun, 
But heathen pomp abased her as the sign 
Of a hid God, and drank the sound divine, 
Till a king heard, and all thou bad'st was done. 
Then was fulfill'd Nature's dim augury, 
That "Wisdom, clad in visible form, would be 
So fair, that all must love and bow the knee ;" 
Lest it might seem, what time the Substance came, 
Truth lack'd a sceptre, when It but laid by 
Its beaming front, and bore a willing shame. 

Lazaret, Malta. January 20 1833. 



104 ISAAC. 



LX. 

ISAAC. 

Makt the guileless years the Patriarch spent, 
Bless'd in the wife a father's foresight chose ; 
Many the prayers and gracious deeds, which rose 

Daily thank-offerings from his pilgrim tent. 

Yet these, though written in the heavens, are rent 
From out truth's lower roll, which sternly shows 
But one sad trespass at his history's close, 

Father's, son's, mother's, and its punishment. 

Not in their brightness, but their earthly stains 

Are the true seed vouchsafed to earthly eyes. 

Sin can read sin, but dimly scans high grace, 

So we move heavenward with averted face, 

Scared into faith by warning of sin's pains ; 

And Saints are lowered, that the world may rise. 

Valletta. January 23, 1833. 



REVERSES. 105 



LXI. 

EEYEESES. 

WnE]sr mirth is full and free, 
Some sudden gloom shall be ; 
When haughty power mounts high, 
The Watcher's axe is nigh. 
All growth has bound ; when greatest found, 
It hastes to die. 

When the rich town, that long 
Has lain its huts among, 
Uprears its pageants vast, 
And vaunts — it shall not last ! 
Bright tints that shine, are but a sign 
Of summer past. 

And when thine eye surveys, 
With fond adoring gaze, 



106 EEVEESES. 

And yearning heart, thy friend — 
Love to its grave doth tend. 
All gifts below, save Truth, but grow 
Towards an end. 

Valletta. January 30, 1833. 



HOPE, 107 



LXII. 

HOPE. 



We are not children of a guilty sire, 

Since Noe stepp'd from out his wave-toss'd 
home, 

And a stern baptism flush'd earth's faded bloom. 
Not that the heavens then clear'd, or cherub's fire 
From Eden's portal did at once retire ; 

But thoughts were stirr'd of Him who was to 
come, 

Whose rainbow hues so streak'd the o'ershadow- 
ing gloom, 
That faith could e'en that desolate scene admire. 
The Lord has come and gone ; and now we wait 
The second substance of the deluge type, 
When our slight ark shall cross a molten surge ; 
So, while the gross earth melts, for judgment ripe, 
Ne'er with its haughty turrets to emerge, 
We shall mount up to Eden's long-lost gate. 

Valletta. February 5, 1833. 



108 ST. PAUL AT MELITA. 

LXIII. 

ST. PAUL AT MELITA. 

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid 
them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat." 

Secuee in his prophetic strength, 

The water peril o'er, 
The many- gifted man at length 

Stepp'd on the promised shore. 

He trod the shore ; but not to rest, 

Nor wait till Angels came ; 
Lo ! humblest pains the Saint attest, 

The firebrands and the flame. 

But, when he felt the viper's smart, 

Then instant aid was given ; 
Christian ! hence learn to do thy part, 

And leave the rest to Heaven. 

Messina. February 8, 1833. 



MESSINA. 109 



LXIT. 

MESSINA. 

" Homo sum ; humani nil a me alienum puto." 

Why, wedded to the Lord, still yearns my heart 
Towards these scenes of ancient heathen fame ? 
Yet legend hoar, and voice of bard that came 
Fixing my restless youth with its sweet art, 
And shades of power, and those who bore a part 
In the mad deeds that set the world in flame, 
So fret my memory here, — ah ! is it blame ? — - 
That from my eyes the tear is fain to start. 
Nay, from no fount impure these drops arise ; 
*Tis but that sympathy with Adam's race 
"Which in each brother's history reads its own. 
So let the cliffs and seas of this fair place 
Be named man's tomb and splendid record stone, 
High hope, pride-stain'd, the course without the 
prize. 

Messina, February 9, 1833. 



110 WARNINGS. 

LXY. 

WARNINGS. 

When Heaven sends sorrow, 
Warnings go first, 
Lest it should burst 
With stunning might 
On souls too bright 

To fear the morrow. 

Can science bear us 

To the hid springs 
Of human things ? 
Why may not dream, 
Or thought's day-gleam, 
Startle, yet cheer us ? 

Are such thoughts fetters, 

While Faith disowns 
Dread of earth's tones, 
Recks but Heaven's call, 
And on the wall 

Reads but Heaven's letters ? 

Between Calatafimi and Palermo. Feb. 12, 1833. 



DKEAMS. Ill 



LXVI. 

DBEAMS. 

Oh ! miserable power 
To dreams allow'd, to raise the guilty past, 
And back awhile the illumined spirit to cast 

On its youth's twilight hour ; 
In mockery guiling it to act again 
The revel or the scoff in Satan's frantic train ! 

Nay, hush thee, angry heart ! 
An Angel's grief ill fits a penitent ; 
Welcome the thorn — it is divinely sent, 

And with its wholesome smart 
Shall pierce thee in thy virtue's palmy home, 
And warn thee what thou art, and whence thy 

wealth has come, 

JPcestum. February 26, 1833. 



112 TEMPTATION. 






LXYII. 

TEMPTATION. 

holt Lord, who with the Children Three 

Didst walk the piercing flame, 
Help, in those trial-hours, which, save to Thee, 

I dare not name ; 
Nor let these quivering eyes and sickening heart 
Crumble to dust beneath the Tempter's dart. 

Thou, who didst once Thy life from Mary's breast 

Renew from day to day, 
might her smile, severely sweet, but rest 

On this frail clay ! 
Till I am Thine with my whole soul ; and fear, 
Not feel a secret joy, that Hell is near. 

Frascati. March 28, 1833. 



OUR FUTURE. 113 

LXTIII. 

OUE FUTUBE. 

" What I do, thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know 
hereafter." 

Did we but see, 
When life first open'd, how our journey lay 
Between its earliest and its closing day, 

Or view ourselves, as we one time shall be, 
Who strive for the high prize, such sight would 

break 
The youthful spirit, though bold for Jesus' sake. 

But Thou, dear Lord ! 
Whilst I traced out bright scenes which were to 

come, 
Isaac's pure blessings, and a verdant home, 

Didst spare me, and withhold Thy fearful word ; 
Wiling me year by year, till I am found 
A pilgrim pale, with Paul's sad girdle bound. 

Tre Fontane. April 2, 1833. 

I 



114 HEATHENISM. 



LXIX. 



HEATHENISM. 



Mid Balak's magic fires 
The Spirit spake, clear as in Israel ; 
With prayers untrue and covetous desires 

Did Grod vouchsafe to dwell ; 
Who summon' d dreams, His earlier word to bring 
To patient Job's vex'd friends, and Grerar's guileless 
king. 

If such o'erflowing grace 
From Aaron's vest e'en on the Sibyl ran, 
Why should we fear, the Son now lacks His place 

Where roams unchristen'd man ? 
As though, when faith is keen, He cannot make 
Bread of the very stones, or thirst with ashes slake. 

Messina. April 21, 1833. 



TAOEMINI. 115 

LXX. 

TAOKMINI. 

* And Jacob went on his way, and the Angels of God met 
him." 

Sat, hast thou track'd a traveller's round, 

Nor visions met thee there, 
Thou couldst but marvel to have found 

This blighted world so fair ? 

And feel an awe within thee rise, 

That sinful man should see 
Grlories far worthier Seraph's eyes 

Than to be shared by thee ? 

Store them in heart ! thou shalt not faint 

'Mid coming pains and fears, 
As the third heaven once nerved a Saint 

For fourteen trial-years. 

Mag nisi. April 26, 1833. 



i 2 



116 RELICS OF SAINTS. 



LXXI. 

EELICS OF SAINTS, 

" He is not the God of the dead, but of the living ; for all live 
unto Him/' 

" The Fathers are in dust, yet live to God :" — 
So says the Truth ; as if the motionless clay 

Still held the seeds of life beneath the sod, 

Smouldering and struggling till the judgment- 
day. 

And hence we learn with reverence to esteem 
Of these frail houses, though the grave confines ; 

Sophist may urge his cunning tests, and deem 
That they are earth ; — but they are heavenly 
shrines. 

Palermo. June 1, 1833. 



DAY-LABOUBEKS. 117 



LXXII. 

DAY-LABOUEEKS. 

" And He said, It is finished." 

One only, of God's messengers to man, 
Finish'd the work of grace, which He began ; 
E'en Moses wearied upon Nebo's height, 

Though loth to leave the fight 
With the doom'd foe, and yield the sun-bright land 

To Joshua's armed hand. 

And David wrought in turn a strenuous part, 
Zeal for God's house consuming him in heart ; 
And yet he might not build, but only bring 

Gifts for the Heavenly King ; 
And these another rear'd, his peaceful son, 

Till the full work was done. 

List, Christian warrior ! thou, whose soul is fain 
To rid thy Mother of her present chain ; — 



118 DAY-LABOURERS. 

Christ will avenge His Bride ; yea, even now 

Begins the work, and thou 
Shalt spend in it thy strength, but, ere He save, 

Thy lot shall be the grave. 

Palermo. June 2, 1833. 



WAEFABE. 119 



LXXIIJ. 

WAEFAEE. 

" Freely ye have received ; freely give." 

" Give any boon for peace ! 
Why should our fair-eyed Mother e'er engage 
In the world's course and on a troubled stage, 
From which her very call is a release ? 

No ! in thy garden stand, 

And tend with pious hand 

The flowers thou plantest there, 

Which are thy proper care, 
man of God ! in meekness and in love, 
And waiting for the blissful realms above." 

Alas ! for thou must learn, 
Thou guileless one ! rough is the holy hand ; 
Euns not the Word of Truth through every land, 
A sword to sever, and a fire to burn ? 



120 WARFAEE. 

If blessed Paul had stay'd 

In cot or learned shade, 

With the priest's white attire, 

And the Saints' tuneful choir, 
Men had not gnash' d their teeth, nor risen to slay, 
But thou hadst been a heathen in thy day. 

Palermo. June 3, 1833. 



SACRILEGE. 121 

LXXIY. 

SACRILEGE. 

The Church shone brightly in her youthful days 

Ere the world on her smiled ; 
So now, an outcast, she would pour her rays 

Keen, free, and un denied : 
Yet would I not that arm of force were mine, 
Which thrusts her from her awful ancient shrine. 

'Twas duty bound each convert-king to rear 

His Mother from the dust, 
And pious was it to enrich, nor fear 

Christ for the rest to trust ; 
And who shall dare make common or unclean 
What once has on the Holy Altar been ? 

Dear brothers ! — -hence, while ye for ill prepare, 

Triumph is still your own ; 
Blest is a pilgrim Church ! — yet shrink to share 

The curse of throwing down. 
So will we toil in our old place to stand, 
Watching, not dreading, the despoiler's hand. 

Palermo. June 4, 1833. 



122 LIEEEALISM. 



LXXY, 

LIBEEALISM. 

" Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Howbeit from the sins of 
Jeroboam Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the 
golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan." 

Ye cannot halve the Gospel of God's grace ; 

Men of presumptuous heart ! I know you well. 

Ye are of those who plan that we should dwell, 
Each in his tranquil home and holy place ; 
Seeing the Word refines all natures rude, 
And tames the stirrings of the multitude. 



And ye have caught some echoes of its lore, 
As heralded amid the joyous choirs ; 
Ye mark'd it spoke of peace, chastised desires, 

Good- will and mercy, — and ye heard no more ; 

But, as for zeal and quick-eyed sanctity, 

And the dread depths of grace, ye pass'd them by. 



LIBEKALISM. 123 

And so ye halve the Truth ; for ye in heart, 
At best, are doubters whether it be true, 
The theme discarding, as unmeet for you, 
Statesmen or Sages. new-encompass'd art 
Of the ancient Foe ! — but what, if it extends 
O'er our own camp, and rules amid our friends ? 

Palermo. June 5, 1833. 



124 DECLENSION. 



LXXYI. 

DECLENSION. 

When I am sad, I say, 

" What boots it me to strive, 
And vex my spirit day by day, 

Dead memories to revive ? 

" Alas ! what good will come, 

Though we our prayer obtain, 
To bring old times triumphant home, 
And wandering flocks regain ? 

" Would not our history run 
In the same weary round, 
And service in meek faith begun, 
At length in forms be bound ? 

" Union would give us strength — 
That strength the earth subdue ; 
And then comes wealth, and pride at length, 
And sloth, and prayers untrue." 



DECLENSION. 125 

Nay, this is worldly-wise ; 

To reason is a crime, 
Since the Lord bade His Church arise, 

In the dark ancient time. 

He wills that she should shine ; 

So we her flame must trim 
Around His soul-converting Sign, 

And leave the rest to Him. 

Palermo. June 6, 1833. 



126 THE AGE TO COME. 



LXXYII. 

THE AGE TO COME. 

Whek I would search the truths that in me burn, 
And mould them into rule and argument, 

A hundred reasoners cried, — " Hast thou to learn 
Those dreams are scatter'd now, those fires are 
spent ?" 

And, did I mount to simpler thoughts, and try 

Some theme of peace, 'twas still the same reply. 

Perplex' d, I hoped my heart was pure of guile, 
But judged me weak in wit, to disagree ; 

But now, I see that men are mad awhile, 

And joy the Age to come will think with me : — 

'Tis the old history — Truth without a home, 

Despised and slain, then rising from the tomb. 

Palermo. June 9> 1833. 



EXTERNAL RELIGION. 127 



LXXYIII. 

EXTEE1STAL EELIGION. 

When first earth's rulers welcomed home 

The Church, their zeal impress'd 
Upon the seasons, as they come, 

The image of their guest. 

Men's words and works, their hopes and fears, 

Henceforth forbid to rove, 
Paused, when a Martyr claim'd her tears, 

Or Saint inspired her love. 

But craving wealth, and feverish power, 

Such service now discard ; 
The loss of one excited hour 

A sacrifice too hard ! 

And e'en ahout the holiest day, 

God's own in every time, 
They doubt and search, lest ought should stay 

The cataract of crime. 



128 EXTERNAL RELIGION. 

Where shall this cease? must crosiers fall, 

Shrines suffer touch profane, 
Till, cast without His vineyard wall, 

The Heaven-sent Heir is slain ? 

Palermo. June 11, 1833. 



ST. GREGORY NAZIANZE1N". 129 



LXXIX. 

ST. GEEGOEY NAZIANZEN. 

Peace-loving man, of humble heart and true! 

What dost thou here ? 
Fierce is the city's crowd ; the lordly few 

Are dull of ear ! 
Sore pain it was to thee, — till thou didst quit 
Thy patriarch-throne at length, as though for power 
unfit. 



So works the All- wise ! our services dividing 

Not as we ask : 
For the world's profit, by our gifts deciding 

Our duty-task. 
See in king's courts loth Jeremias plead ; 
And slow-tongued Moses rule by eloquence of deed ! 

K 



130 ST. GREGORY ^AZIA^ZEF. 

Tes ! thou, bright Angel of the East ! didst rear 

The Cross divine, 
Borne high upon thy liquid accents, where 

Men mock'd the Sign ; 
Till that cold city heard thy battle-cry, 
And hearts were stirr'd, and deem'd a Pentecost 
was nigh. 

Thou couldst a people raise, but couldst not rule : — 

So, gentle one, 
Heaven set thee free, — for, ere thy years were full, 

Thy work was done ; 
According thee the lot thou lovedst best, 
To muse upon the past, — to serve, yet be at rest. 

Palermo. June 12, 1833. 



THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 13 L 



LXXX. 

THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 

Oh that thy creed were sound ! ! 
For thou dost soothe the heart, ThouChurch of Rome, 

By thy unwearied watch and varied round 
Of service, in thy Saviour's holy home. 
I cannot walk the city's sultry streets, 
But the wide porch invites to still retreats, 
Where passion's thirst is calm'd, and care's un- 
thankful gloom. 

There, on a foreign shore, 
The homesick solitary finds a friend : 

Thoughts, prison'd long for lack of speech, out- 
pour 
Their tears ; and doubts in resignation end. 

1 Of course this is the exclamation of one who was not in 
Catholic Communion. 

E 2 



132 THE GOOD SAMAEITAK. 

I almost fainted from the long delay- 
That tangles me within this languid bay, 
When comes a foe, my wounds with oil and wine 
to tend. 

Palermo. June 13, 1833. 



THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD. 133 



LXXXI. 

THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD. 

Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, 

Lead Thou me on ! 
The night is dark, and I am far from home — 

Lead Thou me on ! 
Keep Thou my feet ; I do not ask to see 
The distant scene, — one step enough for me. 



I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that Thou 

Shouldst lead me on. 
I loved to choose and see my path ; but now 

Lead Thou me on ! 
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, 
Pride ruled my will : remember not past years. 



134 THE PILLAE OF THE CLOUD. 

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still 

Will lead me on, 
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till 

The night is gone ; 
And with the morn those angel faces smile 
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile. 

At Sea. June 16, 1833. 



jonas. 135 



LXXXII. 

JONAS. 

f But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish, from the presence 
of the Lord." 

Deep in his meditative bower, 

The tranquil seer reclined ; 
Numbering the creepers of an hour, 

The gourds which o'er him twined. 

To note each plant, to rear each fruit 
Which soothes the languid sense, 

He deem'd a safe, refined pursuit, — 
His Lord, an indolence. 



The sudden voice was heard at length, 
" Lift thou the prophet's rod !" 

But sloth had sapp'd the prophet's strength, 
He fear'd, and fled from God. 



136 jonas. 

Next, by a fearful judgment tamed, 

He threats the offending race ; 
God spares ; — he murmurs, pride-inflamed, 

His threat made void by grace. 

What ? — pride and sloth ! man's worst of foes ! 

And can such guests invade 
Our choicest bliss, the green repose 

Of the sweet garden-shade ? 

Off Sardinia. • June 18, 1833. 



FAITH AGAINST SIGHT. 137 

LXXXIII. 

FAITH AGAINST SIGHT. 

" As it was in the days of Lot, so shall it be also in the day 
of the Son of Man." 

The world has cycles in its course, when all 
That once has been, is acted o'er again : — 

Not by some fated law, which need appal 

Our faith, or binds our deeds as with a chain ; 

But by men's separate sins, which blended still 
The same bad round fulfil. 

Then fear ye not, though Gallio's scorn ye see, 

And soft-clad nobles count you mad, true hearts ! 
These are the fig-tree's signs ; — rough deeds must 
be, 
Trials and crimes : so learn ye well your parts. 
Once more to plough the earth it is decreed, 
And scatter wide the seed. 

Off Sardinia. June 18, 1833. 



138 DESOLATION. 



LXXXIV. 

DESOLATION. 

say not thou art left of God, 
Because His tokens in the sky 

Thou canst not read : this earth He trod 
To teach thee He was ever nigh. 

He sees, beneath the fig-tree green, 
Nathaniel con His sacred lore ; 

Shouldst thou thy chamber seek, unseen, 
He enters through the unopen'd door. 

And when thou liest, by slumber bound, 
Outwearied in the Christian fight, 

In glory, girt with Saints around, 

He stands above thee through the night. 

When friends to Emmaus bend their course, 
He joins, although He holds their eyes : 

Or, shouldst thou feel some fever's force, 
He takes thy hand, He bids thee rise. 



DESOLATION. 139 

Or on a voyage, when calms prevail, 

And prison thee upon the sea, 
He walks the wave, He wings the sail, 

The shore is gain'd, and thou art free. 

Off Sardinia, June 18, 1833. 



140 ZEAL AND PATIENCE. 



LXXXY. 

ZEAL AND PATIENCE. 

" I, Paul, the prisoner of the Lord." 

comrade bold, of toil and pain ! 

Thy trial how severe, 
When sever' d first by prisoner's chain 

Prom thy loved labour-sphere ! 

Say, did impatience first impel 
The heaven-sent bond to break ? 

Or, could st thou bear its hindrance well, 
Loitering for Jesu's sake ? 

might we know ! for sore we feel 

The languor of delay, 
When sickness lets our fainter zeal, 

Or foes block up our way. 



ZEAL AND PATIENCE. 141 

Lord ! who Thy thousand years dost wait 

To work the thousandth part 
Of Thy vast plan, for us create 

With zeal a patient heart. 

Off Sardinia. June 19, 1833. 



142 THE RELIGION OP CAIN. 



LXXXVI. 

THE KELIGION OF CAIN. 

" Am I my brother's keeper ?" 

The time has been, it seem'd a precept plain 

Of the true faith, Christ's tokens to display ; 
And in life's commerce still the thought retain, 
That men have souls, and wait a judgment- 
day ; 
Kings used their gifts as ministers of heaven, 
Nor stripp'd their zeal for God, of m^ans which 
God had given. 

'Tis alter'd now ; — for Adam's eldest born 
Has train'd our practice in a selfish rule, 

Each stands alone, Christ's bonds asunder tern ; 
Each has his private thought, selects his school, 

Conceals his creed, and lives in closest tie 
Of fellowship with those who count it blasphemy. 



THE RELIGION OF CAIN. 143 

Brothers! spare reasoning; — men have settled 
long 
That ye are out of date, and they are wise ; 
Use their own weapons ; let your words be 
strong, 
Your cry be loud, till each scared boaster flies ; 
Thus the Apostles tamed the pagan breast, 
They argued not, but preach' d ; and conscience did 
the rest. 

Off Sardinia. June 19, 1833. 



144 ST. PAUL. 

LXXXVII. 

ST. PAUL. 

I deeam'd that, with a passionate complaint, 
I wish'd me born amid Grod's deeds of might ; 
And envied those who had the presence bright 
Of gifted Prophet and strong-hearted Saint, 
Whom nry heart loves, and Fancy strives to paint. 
I turn'd, when straight a stranger met my sight, 
Came as my guest, and did awhile unite 
His lot with mine, and lived without restraint. 
Courteous he was, and grave, — so meek in mien. 
It seem'd untrue, or told a purpose weak ; 
Yet, in the mood, he could with aptness speak, 
Or with stern force, or show of feelings keen, 
Marking deep craft, methought, or hidden pride : — 
Then came a voice, — " St. Paul is at thy side." 

Off Sardinia. June 20, 1833. 



ELOWERS WITHOUT EltTJIT. 145 



LXXXVIII. 

FLOWEKS WITHOUT FKUIT. 

Prune thou thy words, the thoughts control 
That o'er thee swell and throng ; 

They will condense within thy soul, 
And change to purpose strong. 

But he who lets his feelings run 

In soft luxurious flow, 
Shrinks when hard service must be done, 

And faints at every woe. 

Faith's meanest deed more favour bears, 
Where hearts and wills are weigh'd, 

Than brightest transports, choicest prayers, 
Which bloom their hour and fade. 

Off Sardinia. June 20, 1833. 



L46 zeal a^d meekness. 



LXXXIX. 

ZEAL AND MEEKNESS. 

Cheist bade His followers take the sword ; 

And yet He chid the deed, 
When hasty Peter seized His word, 

And made a foe to bleed. 

The gospel Creed, a sword of strife, 

Meek hands alone may rear; 
And ever Zeal begins its life 

In silent thought and fear. 

Ye, who would weed the Vineyard's soil, 

Treasure the lesson given ; 
Lest in the judgment-books ye toil 

For Satan, not for heaven. 

Off Sardinia. June 20, 1833. 



VEXATIONS. 147 



xc. 

VEXATIONS. 

Each trial has its weight ; which, whoso bears 
Knows his own woe, and need of succouring 

grace ; 
The martyr's hope half wipes away the trace 
Of flowing blood ; the while life's humblest cares 
Smart more, because they hold in Holy Writ no 
place. 

This be my comfort, in these days of grief, 

Which is not Christ's, nor forms heroic 

tale. 
Apart from Him, if not a sparrow fail, 
May not He pitying view, and send relief 
When foes or friends perplex, and peevish thoughts 
prevail ? 

l 2 



148 YEXATIONS. 

Then keep good heart, nor take the niggard 
course 
Of Thomas, who must see ere he would trust. 
Faith will fill up God's word, not poorly just 
To the bare letter, heedless of its force, 
But*walking by its light amid earth's sun and dust. 

Off Sardinia. June 21, 1833. 



THE CHURCH IK PRATER. 149 



XCI. 

THE CHURCH m PRAYER. 

Why loiterest within Simon's walls, 

Hard by the barren sea, 
Thou Saint ! when many a sinner calls 

To preach and set him free ? 

Can this be he, who erst confess' d 

For Christ affection keen, 
Now truant in untimely rest, 

The mood of an Essene ? 

Yet he who at the sixth hour sought 

The lone house-top to pray, 
There gain'd a sight beyond his thought, 

The dawn of Gentile day. 



150 THE CHTJECH I"N" PEATER. 

Then reckon not, when perils lour, 
The time of prayer mis-spent ; 

Nor meanest chance, nor place, nor hour, 
Without its heavenward bent. 

Off Sardinia. June 21, 1833. 



THE WEATH TO COME. 151 



XCII. 

THE WEATH TO COME. 

" From His mouth came ont a sharp two-edged sword." 

When first God stirr'd me, and the Church's word 
Came as a theme of reverent search and fear, 
It little cost to own the lustre clear 

O'er rule she taught, and rite, and doctrine pour'd ; 

For conscience craved, and reason did accord. 
Yet one there was that wore a mien austere, 
And I did doubt, and, troubled, ask'd to hear 

Whose mouth had force to edge so sharp a sword. 

My mother oped her trust, the holy Book ; 

And heal'd my pang. She pointed, and I found 

Christ on Himself, considerate Master, took 

The utterance of that doctrine's fearful sound. 

The Fount of Love His servants sends to tell 

Love's deeds; Himself reveals the sinner's hell. 

Off Sardinia. June 21, 1833. 



152 PUSILLANIMITY. 

XCIII. 

PUSILLANIMITY. 

" I have need to be baptized of Thee, and coinest Thou to 
me?" 

How didst thou start, Thou Holy Baptist, bid 
To pour repentance on the Sinless Brow ! 

Then all thy meekness, from thy hearers hid, 
Beneath the Ascetic's port, and Preacher's fire, 

Flow'd forth, and with a pang thou didst desire 
He might be chief, not thou. 

And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim 

Powers that we dread, or dare some forward part ; 

~Nor must we shrink as cravens from the blame 
Of pride, in common eyes, or purpose deep ; 

But with pure thoughts look up to Grod, and keep 
Our secret in our heart. 

At Sea. June 22, 1833. 



JAMES AND JOHN. 153 



XCIV. 

JAMES AND JOHN. 

Two brothers freely cast their lot 
With David's royal Son ; 

The cost of conquest counting not, 
They deem the battle won. 



Brothers in heart, they hope to gain 

An undivided joy ; 
That man may one with man remain, 

As boy was one with boy. 

Christ heard; and will'd that James should 
fall, 

First prey of Satan's rage ; 
John linger, out his fellows all, 

And die in bloodless age. 



154 JAMES AKD JOHN. 

Now they join hands once more above, 
Before the Conqueror's throne ; 

Thus God grants prayer, but in His love 
Makes times and ways His own. 

At Sea. June 22, 1833. 



HOEA NOVTSSIMA. 155 



XCV. 

HORA NOVISSIMA. 

Whene'er goes forth Thy dread command, 

And my last hour is nigh, 
Lord, grant me in a Christian land, 

As I was born, to die. 

I pray not, Lord, that friends may be, 

Or kindred, standing by, — 
Choice blessing ! which I leave to Thee 

To grant me or deny. 

But let my failing limbs beneath 

My Mother's smile recline ; 
And prayers sustain my labouring breath 

From out her sacred shrine. 

And let the Cross beside my bed 

In its due emblems rest ; 
And let the absolving words be said, 

To ease a laden breast. 



156 HOUA NOYISSIMA. 

Thou, Lord, where'er we lie, canst aid ; 

But He, who taught His own 
To live as one, will not upbraid 

The dread to die alone. 

At Sea. June 22, 1833 



PKOGEESS Or UNBELIEF. 157 



XCYI. 

PROGRESS OF UNBELIEF. 

Now is the Autumn of the Tree of Life ; 

Its leaves are shed upon the unthankful earth, 
Which lets them whirl, a prey to the winds' strife, 

Heartless to store them for the months of dearth. 

Men close the door, and dress the cheerful hearth, 
Self-trusting still ; and in his comely gear 
Of precept and of rite, a household Baal rear. 

But I will out amid the sleet, and view 

Each shrivelling stalk and silent-falling leaf. 

Truth after truth, of choicest scent and hue, 
' Fades, and in fading stirs the Angels' grief, 
Unanswer'd here ; for she, once pattern chief 

Of faith, my Country, now gross-hearted grown, 

Waits but to burn the stem before her idol's throne. 

At Sea. June 23, 1833. 



158 CONSOLATION. 



XCYII. 

CONSOLATION. 

"It is I; be not afraid." 

When I sink down in gloom or fear, 

Hope blighted or delay 'd, 
Thy whisper, Lord, my heart shall cheer, 

"'TisI; be not afraid!" 

Or, startled at some sudden blow, 

If fretful thoughts I feel, 
" Fear not, it is but I !" shall flow, 

As balm my wound to heal. 

Nor will I quit Thy way, though foes 

Some onward pass defend ; 
From each rough voice the watchword goes, 

" Be not afraid ! . . . a friend ! " 



COKSOLATIOK. 159 

And ! when judgment's trumpet clear 

Awakes me from the grave, 
Still in its echo may I hear, 

" 'Tis Christ ; He comes to save." 

At Sea. June 23, 1833. 



160 T7ZZAH AND OBED-EDOM. 

XCVIII. 

UZZAH AND OBED-EDOM. 

The ark of God has hidden strength ; 

Who reverence or profane, 
They, or their seed, shall find at length 

The penalty or gain. 

While as a sojourner it sought 

Of old its destined place, 
A blessing on the home it brought 

Of one who did it grace. 

But there was one, outstripping all 

The holy-vestured band, 
Who laid on it, to save its fall, 

A rude corrective hand. 

Bead, who the Church would cleanse, and mark 

How stern the warning runs ; 
There are two ways to aid her ark — 

As patrons, and as sons. 

At Sea. June 24, 1833. 



THE GIFT OF TONGUES. 161 



XCIX. 

THE GIFT OF TONGUES. 

Once cast with men of language strange 

And foreign-moulded creed, 
I mark'd their random converse change, 

And sacred themes succeed. 

how I coveted the gift 

To thread their mingled throng 

Of sounds, then high my witness lift ! 
But weakness chain' d my tongue. 

Lord ! has our dearth of faith and prayer 
Lost us this power once given, 

Or is it sent at seasons rare 
And then flits back to heaven ? 

At Sea. June 24, 1833. 



M 



162 THE POWER OE PRAYER. 



THE POWEE OF PEAYEE. 

There is not on the earth a soul so base 

But may obtain a place 

In covenanted grace ; 
So that his feeble prayer of faith obtains 

Some loosening of his chains, 
And earnests of the great release, which rise 
From gift to gift, and reach at length the eternal 
prize. 

All may save self; — but minds that heavenward 
tower 

Aim at a wider power, 

Gifts on the world to shower. — 

And this is not at once ; — by fastings gain'd, 
And trials well sustain'd, 

By pureness, righteous deeds, and toils of love, 

Abidance in the Truth, and zeal for God above. 

At Sea. June 24, 1833. 



SEMITA JTJSTORUM. 163 



CI. 

SEMITA JUSTOBTJM. 

When I look back upon my former race, 
Seasons I see, at which the Inward Kay 
More brightly burn'd, or guided some new way ; 
Truth, in its wealthier scene and nobler space 
Given for my eye to range, and feet to trace. 
And next I mark, 'twas trial did convey, 
Or grief, or pain, or strange eventful day, 
To my tormented soul such larger grace. 
So now, whene'er, in journeying on, I feel 
The shadow of the Providential Hand, 
Deep breathless stirrings shoot across my breast, 
Searching to know what He will now reveal, 
"What sin uncloak, what stricter rule command, 
And girding me to work His full behest. 

At Sea. June 25, 1833. 



M 2 



164 THE ELEMENTS. 

CII. 

THE ELEMENTS. 

(A Tragic Chorus.) 

Man is permitted much 
To scan and learn 
In Nature's frame ; 
Till he well-nigh can tame 
Brute mischiefs, and can touch 
Invisible things, and turn 
All warring ills to purposes of good. 
Thus, as a god below, 
He can control, 
And harmonize, what seems amiss to flow 
As sever' d from the whole 
And dimly understood. 

But o'er the elements 

One Hand alone 

One Hand has sway. 
What influence day by day 
In straiter belt prevents 
The impious Ocean, thrown 



THE ELEMENTS. 165 

Alternate o'er the ever- sounding shore? 

Or who has eye to trace 
How the Plague came ? 
Forerun the doublings of the Tempest's race ? 

Or the Air's weight and flame 

On a set scale explore ? 

Thus God has will'd 
That man, when fully skill'd, 
Still gropes in twilight dim ; 
Encompass'd all his hours 

By fearfullest powers 

Inflexible to him. 
That so he may discern 

His feebleness, 
And e'en for earth's success 

To Him in wisdom turn, 
Who holds for us the keys of either home, 
Earth and the world to come. 

At Sea. June 25, 1833. 



166 APOSTASY. 



cm. 

APOSTASY. 

Feance ! I will think of thee as wjiat thou wast, 
When Poictiers show'd her zeal for the true 
creed ; 

Or in that age, when Holy Truth, though cast 
On a rank soil, yet was a thriving seed, 

Thy schools within, from neighbouring countries 
chased ; 
E'en of thy pagan day I bear to read, 

Thy Martyrs sanctified the guilty host, 

The sons of blessed John, rear'd on a western coast. 

I dare not think of thee as what thou art, 

Lest thoughts too deep for man should trouble 
me. 

It is not safe to place the mind and heart 
On brink of evil, or its flames to see, 



APOSTASY, 167 

Lest they should dizzy, or some taint impart, 

Or to our sin a fascination be. 
And so in silence I will now proclaim 
Hate of thy present self, and scarce will sound thy 



Off the French coast. June 26, 1833. 



1 This is not the language of one who knew any thing 
rightly of that great Catholic and highly gifted people. 



168 JUDAISM. 



CIY. 

JUDAISM. 

(A Tragic Chorus.) 
piteous race ! 
Fearful to look upon, 
Once standing in high place, 
Heaven's eldest son. 
aged blind 
Unvenerable ! as thou flittest by, 
I liken thee to him in pagan song, 

In thy gaunt majesty, 
The vagrant King, of haughty-purposed mind 
Whom prayer nor plague could bend 1 ; 
Wrong'd, at the cost of him who did the wrong, 
Accursed himself, but in his cursing strong, 
And honour'd in his end. 

1 Vide the (Edipus Coloneus of Sophocles. 



JUDAISM. 169 

Abraham ! sire, 
Shamed in thy progeny ; 
Who to thy faith aspire, 
Thy Hope deny. 
Well wast thou given 
From out the heathen an adopted heir, 
Raised strangely from the dead, when sin had 
slain 

Thy former-cherish' d care. 
holy men, ye first-wrought gems of heaven ! 
Polluted in your kin, 
Come to our fonts, your lustre to regain. 
Holiest Lord ! . . . . but Thou canst take no stain 
Of blood, or taint of sin. 

Twice in their day 
Proffer of precious cost 
Was made, Heaven's hand to stay 
Ere all was lost. 
The first prevail' d ; 
Moses was outcast from the promised home, 
For his own sin, yet taken at his prayer 

To change his people's doom. 
Close on their eve, one other ask'd and fail'd ; 



170 JUDAISM. 

When fervent Paul was fain 
The accursed tree, as Christ had borne, to bear, 
No hopeful answer came, — a Price more rare 

Already shed in vain. 

Off Marseilles Saviour. June 27, 1833. 



THE PEIESTLY OFFICE. 17 L 



CY. 

THE PEIESTLY OFFICE. 

EKOM ST. GEE GOBY tfAZIAKZiN". 

lis" service o'er the Mystic Feast I stand ; 

I cleanse Thy victim-flock, and bring them near 
In holiest wise, and by a bloodless rite. 
O Fire of Love ! gushing Fount of Light ! 
(As best I know, who need Thy cleansing Hand) 
Dread office this, bemired souls to clear 

Of their defilement, and again make bright. 

Oxford. 1834. 



172 MORKING. 



CVI. 

MOKNING. 

FROM ST. GREGOB.Y BTAZIANZEN. 

I rise and raise my clasped hands to Thee ! 
Henceforth, the darkness hath no part in me, 

Thy sacrifice this day ; 
Abiding firm, and with a freeman's might 
Stemming the waves of passion in the fight j — 

Ah, should I from Thee stray, 
My hoary head, Thy table where I bow, 
Will be my shame, which are mine honour now. 
Thus I set out ; — Lord ! lead me on my way ! 

Oxford. 1834. 



EVEJSTNG. 173 



CYII. 

EVENING. 

FROM ST. GEEGORT ^AZIANZEK. 

Holiest Truth ! how have I lied to Thee ! 

1 vow'd this day Thy sacrifice to be ; 

But I am dim ere night. 
Surely I made my prayer, and I did deem 
That I could keep in me Thy morning beam, 

Immaculate and bright. 
But my foot slipp'd ; and, as I lay, he came, 
My gloomy foe, and robb'd me of heaven's flame. 
Help Thou my darkness, Lord, till I am light. 

Oxford, 1834. 



174 A. HERMITAGE. 



CYITI. 

A HEBMITAGE. 

PROM ST. GREGORY NAZIAETZEN. 

Some one whisper'd yesterday, 
Of the rich and fashionable, 

Gregory in his own small way 
Easy was and comfortable. 

Had he not of wealth his fill 
Whom a garden gay did bless, 

And a gently trickling rill, 
And the sweets of idleness ? 

I made answer : — " Is it ease 
Fasts to keep and tears to shed, 

Vigil hours and wounded knees, 
Call you these a pleasant bed?" 



A HERMITAGE. 175 

Thus a veritable monk 

Does to death his fleshly frame ; 

Be there who in sloth are sunk, 
They have forfeited the name. 

Oxford, 1834. 



176 THE MARRIED A]ST> THE SINGLE. 



CIX. 

THE MAEEIED AND THE SINGLE. 

A FRAGMENT FROM ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN. 

As, when the hand some mimic form would paint. 
It marks its purpose first in shadows faint, 
And next, its store of varied hues applies, 
Till outlines fade, and the full limbs arise ; 
So in the earlier school of sacred lore 
The Virgin-life no claim of honour bore, 
"While in Eeligion's youth the Law held sway, 
And traced in symbols dim that better way. 
But, when the Christ came by a Virgin-birth, — 
His radiant passage from high heaven to earth, — 
And, spurning father for His mortal state, 
Did Eve and all her daughters consecrate, 
Solved fleshly laws, and in the letter's place 
Gave us the Spirit and the Word of Grace, 
Then shone the glorious Celibate at length, 
Eobed in the dazzling lightnings of its strength, 



THE MAEEIED AND THE SINGLE. 177 

Surpassing gifts of eartli and marriage vow, 
As soul the body, heaven this world below, 
The eternal peace of saints life's troubled span, 
And the high throne of God the haunts of man. 
So now there circles round the King of Light 
A heaven on earth, a blameless court 1 and bright, 
Aiming as emblems of their God to shine, 
Christ in their heart, and on their brow His Sign,— 
Soft funeral lights in the world's twilight dim, 
Loving their God, and ever loved by Him. 

Ye countless multitudes, content to bow 
To the soft thraldom of the marriage vow ! 
I mark your haughty step, your fro ward gaze, 
Gems deck your hair, and silk your limbs arrays ; 
Come, tell the gain which wedlock has conferr'd 
On man • and then the single shall be heard. 

The married many thus might plead, I wean ; 
Eight glib their tongue, full confident their mien : — 
" Hear all who live ! to whom the nuptial rite 
Has brought the privilege of life and light. 
We, who are wedded, but the law obey 
Stamp' d at creation on our blood and clay, 



178 THE MAEEIED AND THE SINGLE. 

What time the Demiurge our line began, 
Oped Adam's side, and out of man drew man. 
Thenceforth let children of a mortal sod 
Honour the law of earth, the primal law of God. 



" List, you shall hear the gifts of price that lie 
Gather'd and bound within the marriage-tie. 
What taught the arts of life, the truths that sleep 
In earth, or highest heaven, or vasty deep ? 
What filPd the mart, and urged the vessel brave 
To link in one fair countries o'er the wave ? 
What raised the town? what gave the type and germ 
Of social union, and of sceptre firm ? 
What the first husbandman, the glebe to plough, 
And rear the garden, but the marriage vow ? 



" Nay, list again ! Who seek its kindly chain, 
A second self, a double presence gain ; 
Hands, eyes, and ears, to act or suffer here. 
Till e'en the weak inspire both love and fear, — 
A comrade's sigh, to soothe when cares annoy, 
A comrade's smile, to elevate his joy. 



THE MARRIED AND THE SINGLE. 179 

" Nor say it weds us to a carnal life, 
When want is urgent, fears and vows are rife. 
Light heart is his, who has no joke at home, 
Scant prayer for blessings, as the seasons come ; 
But wife, and offspring, goods which go or stay, 
Teach us our need, and make us trust and pray. 
Take love away, and life would be defaced, 
A ghastly vision on a howling waste, 
Stern, heartless, reft of the sweet spells which swage 
The throes of passion, and which gladden age. 
No child's sweet pranks, once more to make us 

young ; 
No ties of place about our heart-strings flung ; 
No public haunts to cheer ; no festive tide 
When harmless mirth and smiling wit preside ; 
A life which scorns the gifts by Heaven assign'd, 
Nor knows the sympathy of human kind. 



" Prophets and teachers, priests and victor kings, 
Deck'd with each grace which heaven-taught nature 

brings, 
These were no giant offspring of the earth, 
But to the marriage-promise owed their birth : — 
n 2 



ISO THE MARKIED AND THE SINGLE. 

Moses and Samuel, David, David's Son, 
The blessed Tishbite, the more blessed John, 
The sacred Twelve in apostolic choir, 
Strong-hearted Paul, instinct with seraph fire, 
And others, now or erst, who to high heaven aspire. 
Bethink ye ; should the single state be best, 
Yet who the single, but my offspring blest ? 
My sons, be still, nor with your parents strive : 
They coupled in their day, and so ye live." 

Thus marriage pleads. Now let her rival speak — 
Dim is her downcast eye, and pale her cheek ; 
Untrimm'd her gear ; no sandals on her feet ; 
A sparest form for austere tenant meet. 
She drops her veil her modest face around, 
And her lips open, but we hear no sound. 
I will address her : — " Hail, child of Heaven, 
Glorious within ! to whom a post is given 
Hard by the Throne where angels bow and fear, 
E'en while thou hast a name and mission here, 
O deign thy voice, unveil thy brow, and see 
Thy ready guard and minister in me. 
Oft hast thou come heaven-wafted to my breast, 
Bright Spirit ! so come again, and give me rest." 



THE MA.RKTED AND THE SINGLE. 181 

..." Ah, who has hither drawn my backward 
feet, 
Changing for worldly strife my lone retreat ? 
Where, in the silent chant of holy deeds, 
I praise my God, and tend the sick soul's needs ; 
By toils of day, and vigils of the night, 
By gushing tears, and blessed lustral rite. 
I have no sway amid the crowd, no art 
In speech, no plea in council or in mart. 
Nor human law, nor judges throned on high, 
Smile on my face, and to my words reply. 
Let others seek earth's honours ; be it mine 
One law to cherish, and to track one line, 
Straight on towards heaven to press with single 

bent, 
To know and love my God, and then to die content." 

Oxford. 1834. 



182 INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS. 



CX. 

INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS. 

While Moses on the Mountain lay, 
Night after night, and day by day, 

Till forty suns were gone, 
Unconscious, in the Presence bright, 
Of lustrous day and starry night, 
As though his soul had flitted quite 

From earth, and Eden won : 



The pageant of a kingdom vast, 
And things unutterable, pass'd 

Before the Prophet's eye ; 
Dread shadows of th' Eternal Throne, 
The fount of Life, and Altar-stone, 
Pavement, and them that tread thereon, 

And those who worship nigh. 



INTEBCESSION OF THE SAINTS. 183 

But lest he should his own forget, 
Who in the vale were struggling yet, 

A sadder vision came, 
Announcing all that guilty deed 
Of idol rite, that in their need 
He for his flock might intercede, 

And stay Heaven's rising flame. 

Oxford. . September 4, 1835. 



184 EEPEIGEEIUM. 



CXI. 

REFKIGEBIUM 3 . 

They are at rest : 
The fire has eaten out all blot and stain , 
And, convalescent, they enjoy a blest 

Refreshment after pain ; 
Thus to the End ? in Eden's grots they lie, 
And hear the fourfold river, as it hurries by. 

They hear it sweep 
In distance down the dark and savage glen ; 
Safe from its rocky bed, and current deep, 

And eddying pools, till then ; 
They hear, and meekly muse, as fain to know 
How long untired, unspent, that giant stream shall 
flow. 

1 Altered from the first editions. Here it is meant to 
illustrate St. Bede's " Quoddam quasi pratum, in quo aninise 
nihil patiebantur, sed manehant, nondum idonese Visioni 
Beatse." Hist. v. 



BEFRIGEEIUM. 185 

And soothing sounds 
Blend with the neighbouring waters as they glide ; 
Posted along the haunted garden's bounds 

Angelic forms abide, 
Echoing, as words of watch, o'er lawn and grove, 
The verses of that hymn which Seraphs chant above. 

Oxford. 1835. 



18G MATINS — SUNDAY. 



CXII. 

MATINS— SUNDAY \ 

Primo die, quo Trinitas. 

To-dat the Blessed Three in One 

Began the earth and skies ; 
To-day a Conqueror, God the Son, 

Did from the grave arise ; 
We too will wake, and, in despite 
Of sloth and languor, all unite, 
As Psalmists bid, through the dim night 

Waiting with wistful eyes. 

So may He hear, and heed each vow 

And prayer to Him addrest ; 
And grant an instant cleansing now, 

A future glorious rest. 

1 These Hymns are all free translations, made in 1836-8, 
from the Roman Breviary, except two, which are from the 
Parisian. 



MATINS SUNDAY. 187 

So may He plentifully shower, 
On all who hymn His love and power, 
In this most still and sacred hour, 
His sweetest gifts and best. 

Father of purity and light ! 

Thy presence if we win, 
'Twill shield us from the deeds of night 

The burning darts of sin ; 
Lest aught defiled or dissolute 
Relax our bodies or imbrute, 
And fires eternal be the fruit 

Of fire now lit within. 

Fix in our hearts, Redeemer dear, 

The ever-gushing spring 
Of grace to cleanse, of life to cheer 

Souls sick and sorrowing. 
Thee, bounteous Father, we intreat, 
And Only Son, awful and sweet, 
And life- creating Paraclete, 

The everlasting King. 



188 MATINS — SUNDAY. 



CXIII. 

MATINS— SUNDAY. 

Nocte surgentes. 

Let us arise, and watch by night, 

And meditate always ; 
And chant, as in our Maker's sight, 

United hymns of praise. 

So, singing with the Saints in bliss, 
With them we may attain 

Life everlasting after this, 
And heaven for earthly pain. 

Grant this, Father, Only Son, 
And Spirit, God of grace, 

To whom all worship shall be done 
In every time and place. 



LATINS MONDAY. 189 



CXIT. 

MATINS— MONDAY. 

Somno refectis artubus. 

Sleep has refresh'd our limbs, we spring 

From off our bed, and rise ; 
Lord, on Thy suppliants, ivhile they sing, 

Look with a Father's eyes. 

Be Thou the first on every tongue, 

The first in every heart ; 
That all our doings all day long, 

Holiest ! from Thee may start. 

Cleanse Thou the gloom, and bid the light 

Its healing beams renew ; 
The sins, which have crept in with night, 

With night shall vanish too. 



190 MATINS — MONDAY. 

Our bosoms, Lord, unburthen Thou, 

Let nothing there offend ; 
That those who hymn Thy praises now, 

May hymn them to the end. 

Grant this, Father, Only Son, 

And Spirit, God of grace, 
To whom all worship shall be done 

In every time and place. 



MATINS — TUESDAY. 19 L 



CXY. 

MATINS— TUESDAY. 

Consors Paterni luminis. 

God from God, and Light from Light, 

Who art Thyself the day, 
Our chants shall break the clouds of night ; 

Be with us while we pray. 

Chase Thou the gloom that haunts the mind, 

The thronging shades of hell, 
The sloth and drowsiness that bind 

The senses with a spell. 

Lord, to their sins indulgent be, 

Who, in this hour forlorn, 
By faith in what they do not see, 

With songs prevent the morn. 

Grant this, O Father, etc. 



192 MATINS — WEDNESDAY. 



CXYT. 

MATINS— WEDNESDAY. 

Kerura Creator optirne. 

Who madest all and dost control, 
Lord, with Thy touch divine, 

Cast out the slumbers of the soul, 
The rest that is not Thine. 

Look down, Eternal Holiness, 

And wash the sins away, 
Of those, who, rising to confess, 

Outstrip the lingering day. 

Our hearts and hands by night, Lord, 

We lift them in our need ; 
As holy Psalmists give the word, 

And holy Paul the deed. 



MATINS — WEDNESDAY. 193 

Each sin to Thee of years gone by, 

Each hidden stain lies bare ; 
We shrink not from Thine awful eye, 

But pray that Thou wouldst spare. 

Grant this, Father, etc. 



194 MATIN'S — THURSDAY. 



CXTIT. 

MATINS— THUKSD AY. 

Nox atra rerum contegit. 

All tender lights, all hues divine 
The night has swept away ; 

Shine on us, Lord, and we shall shine 
Bright in an inward day. 

The spots of guilt, sin's wages base, 
Searcher of hearts, we own ; 

Wash us and robe us in Thy grace, 
Who didst for sins atone. 



The sluggard soul, that bears their mark, 

Shrinks in its silent lair, 
Or gropes amid its chambers dark 

For Thee who, art not there. 



MATINS— THURSDAY. 195 

Redeemer ! send Thy piercing rays, 

That we may bear to be 
Set in the light of Thy pure gaze, 

And yet rejoice in Thee. 

Grant this, Father, etc. 



o 2 



196 MATINS — FKIDAY. 



CXVIII. 

MATINS— FKIDAY. 

Tu Trinitatis Unitas. 

Mat the dread Three in One, who sways 
All with His sovereign might, 

Accept us for this hymn of praise, 
His watchers in the night. 



For in the night, when all is still, 
We spurn our bed and rise, 

To find the balm for ghostly ill, 
His bounteous hand supplies. 

If e'er by night our envious foe 
With guilt our souls would stain, 

May the deep streams of mercy flow, 
And make us white again ; 



MATINS FKIDAY. 197 

That so with bodies braced and bright, 

And hearts awake within, 
All fresh and keen may burn our light, 

Undimm'd, unsoil'd by sin. 

Shine on Thine own, Redeemer sweet ! 

Thy radiance increate 
Through the long day shall keep our feet 

In their pure morning state. 

Grant this, Father, etc. 



198 MATINS SATURDAY. 



CXTX. 

MATINS— SATURDAY. 

Summse Parens clementise. 

Father of mercies infinite, 

Ruling all things that be, 
Who, shrouded in the depth and height, 

Art One, and yet art Three ; 

Accept our chants, accept our tears, 

A mingled stream we pour ; 
Such stream the laden bosom cheers, 

To taste Thy sweetness more. 

Purge Thou with fire the o'ercharged mind, 
Its sores and wounds profound ; 

And with the watcher's girdle bind 
The limbs which sloth has bound 



MATINS — SATURDAY . 199 

That they who with their chants by night 

Before Thy presence come, 
All may be fill'd with strength and light 

From their eternal home. 

Grant this, Father, etc. 



200 LAUDS — SUNDAY. 



CXX. 

LAUDS— SUNDAY. 

iEterne reruin conditor. 

Feamer of the earth and sky, 
Ruler of the day and night, 

With a glad variety, 

Tempering all, and making light ; 

Gleams upon our dark path flinging, 
Cutting short each night begun, 

Hark ! for chanticleer is singing, 
Hark ! he chides the lingering sun. 

And the morning star replies, 

And lets loose the imprison'd day ; 

And the godless bandit flies 

From his haunt and from his prey. 



LAUDS SUNDAY. 201 

Shrill it sounds, the storm relenting 
Soothes the weary seaman's ears ; 

Once it wrought a great repenting, 
In that flood of Peter's tears. 

Rouse we ; let the blithesome ery 

Of that bird our hearts awaken ; 
Chide the slumberers as they lie, 

And arrest the sin-o'ertaken. 

Hope and health are in his strain, 

To the fearful and the ailing ; 
Murder sheathes his blade profane, 

Faith revives when faith was failing. 

Jesu, Master ! when we sin, 

Turn on us Thy healing face ; 
It will melt the offence within 

Into penitential grace : 

Beam on our bewilder'd mind, 

Till its dreamy shadows flee ; 
Stones cry out where Thou hast shined, 

Jesu ! musical with Thee. 



202 LAUDS — SUNDAY. 

To the Father and the Son, 

And the Spirit, who in Heaven 

Ever witness. Three and One, 
Praise on Earth be ever given. 



LAUDS — SUNDAY. 203 



CXXI. 

LAUDS— SUNDAY. 

Ecce jam noctis. 

Palee have grown the shades of night, 

And nearer draws the day, 
Checkering the sky with streaks of lights 

Since we began to pray : 

To pray for mercy when we sin, 

For cleansing and release, 
For ghostly safety, and within 

For everlasting peace. 

Praise to the Father, as is meet, 

Praise to the Only Son, 
Praise to the Holy Paraclete, 

While endless ages run. 



204 LAUDS MCXNDAT. 



CXXII. 

LAUDS— MONDAY. 

Splendor Paternse glorise. 

Oe the Father Effluence bright, 
Out of Light evolving light, 
Light from Light, unfailing Raj, 
Day creative of the day : 



Truest Sun, upon us stream 
With Thy calm perpetual beam, 
In the Spirit's still sunshine 
Making sense and thought divine. 



Seek we too the Father's face, 

Father of almighty grace, 

And of majesty excelling, 

Who ^an purge our tainted dwelling ; 



I,ATJDS MONDAY. 205 

Who can aid us, who can break 
Teeth of envious foes, and make 
Hours of loss and pain succeed, 
Guiding safe each duteous deed, 

And infusing self-control, 
Fragrant chastity of soul, 
Faith's keen flame to soar on high, 
Incorrupt simplicity. 

Christ Himself for food be given, 
Faith become the cup of Heaven, 
Out of which the joy is quaff 'd 
Of the Spirit's sobering draught. 

With that joy replenished, 
Morn shall glow with modest red, 
Noon with beaming faith be bright, 
Eve be soft without twilight. 

It has dawn'd ; — upon our way, 
Father in Thy Word, this day, 
In Thy Father Word Divine, 
From Thy cloudy pillar shine. 



206 LATJDS — MONDAY. 

To the Father, and the Son, 
And the Spirit, Three and One, 
As of old, and as in Heaven, 
Now and here be glory given. 



LAUDS — TUESDAY. 207 



CXXIII. 

LAUDS— TUESDAY. 

Ales diei mintius. 

Day's herald bird 
At length is heard, 

Telling its morning torch is lit, 
And small and still 
Christ's accents thrill, 

Within the heart rekindling it. 



Away, He cries, 

With languid eyes, 
And sickly slumbers profitless ! 

I am at hand, 

As watchers stand, 
In awe, and truth, and holiness. 



208 LATJDS— TUESDAY. 

He will appear 

The hearts to cheer 
Of suppliants pale and abstinent ; 

Who cannot sleep 

Because they weep 
With holy grief and violent. 

Keep us awake, 

The fetters break, 
Jesu ! which night has forged for us ; 

Yea, melt the night 

To sinless light, 
Till all is bright and glorious. 

To Father, Son, 

And Spirit, One, 
To the Most Holy Trinity, 

All praise be given 

In Earth and Heaven, 
Now, as of old, and endlessly. 



LATJDS — WEDNESDAY. 209 



CXXIY. 

LAUDS— WEDNESDAY. 

Nox et tenebras et nubila. 

Haunting gloom and flitting shades, 

Ghastly shapes, away ! 
Christ is rising, and pervades 

Highest Heaven with day. 

He with His bright spear the night 

Dazzles and pursues; 
Earth wakes up, and glows with light 

Of a thousand hues. 

Thee, Christ, and Thee alone, 

With a single mind, 
We with chant and plaint would own ; 

To Thy flock be kind. 



2 10 LAUDS WEDNESDAY. 

Much it needs Thy light divine, 
Spot and stain to clean ; 

Light of Angels, on us shine 
With Thy face serene. 

To the Father and the Son 
And the Holy Ghost, 

Here be glory, as is done 
By the angelic host. 



LAUDS — TIIUKSDAY. 211 



CXXY. 

LAUDS— THUBSDAY. 

Lux ecce surgit aurea. 

See, the golden dawn is glowing, 
While the paly shades are going, 
"Which have led us far and long, 
In a labyrinth of wrong. 

May it bring us peace serene ; 
May it cleanse, as it is clean ; 
Plain and clear our words be spoke, 
And our thoughts without a cloak ; 

So the day's account shall stand, 
Guileless tongue and holy hand, 
Stedfast eyes and unbeguiled, 
" Flesh as of a little child." 
p 2 



212 LAUDS — THUBSDAT. 

There is One who from above 
Watches how the still hours move 
Of our day of service done, 
From the dawn to setting sun. 



To the Father, and the Son, 
And the Spirit, Three and One, 
As of old, and as in Heaven, 
]S T ow and here be glory given. 



LAUDS — FRIDAY. 213 



CXXTI. 

LAUDS— FBIDAY. 

.$] tenia coeli gloria; 

Glory of the eternal Heaven, 
Blessed Hope to mortals given, 
Of the Almighty Only Son, 
And the Virgin's Holy One ; 
Raise us, Lord, and we shall rise 

In a sober mood, 
And a zeal, which glorifies 

Thee from gratitude. 

Now the day-star, keenly glancing, 
Tells us of the Sun's advancing ; 
While the unhealthy shades decline, 
Kise within us, Light Divine ! 
Hise, and, risen, go not hence, 

Stay and make us bright, 
Streaming through each cleansed sense, 

On the outward night. 



214 LAUDS FRIDAY. 

Then the root of faith shall spread 
In the heart new fashioned ; 
Gladsome hope shall spring above, 
And shall bear the fruit of love. 
To the Father, and the Son, 

And the Holy Ghost, 
Here be glory, as is done 

By the angelic host. 



LAUDS — SATURDAY. 215 



CXXYII. 

LAUDS— SATURDAY. 

Aurora jam spar git polum. 

The dawn is sprinkled o'er the sky, 

The day steals softly on ; 
Its darts are scatter'd far and nigh, 
And all that fraudful is, shall fly 

Before the brightening sun ; 
Spectres of ill, that stalk at will, 

And forms of guilt that fright, 
And hideous sin, that ventures in 

Under the cloak of night. 



And of our crimes the tale complete, 

Which bows us in Thy sight, 
Up to the latest, they shall fleet, 
Out-told by our full numbers sweet, 
And melted by the light. 



216 LAUDS — SATTTKDAY. 

To Father, Son, and Spirit, One, 
Whom we adore and love, 

Be given all praise, now and always, 
Here as in Heaven above. 



PKIME. 217 

CXXVIII. 

PRIME. 

Jain lucis orto sidere. 
(From the Parisian Breviary l .) 

Now that the day-star glimmers bright. 

Pray, brothers, bending low, 
That He, the uncreated Light, 

May guide us as we go. 

No sinful word, nor deed of wrong, 

Nor thoughts that idly rove ; 
But simple truth be on our tongue, 

And in our hearts be love. 

And, while the hours in order flow, 

Christ, securely fence 
Our gates, beleaguer'd by the foe, — ■ 

The gate of every sense. 

1 Vide the Anglo -Norman History of Sir Francis Palgrave 
(Vol. iii. p. 588), who did the Author the honour of asking 
him for a translation of this hymn, as also of the Christe 
Pastorum, infra. 



218 PEIME. 

And grant that to Thine honour, Lord, 

Our daily toil may tend ; 
That we begin it at Thy word, 

And in Thy favour end. 

And, lest the flesh in its excess 

Should lord it o'er the soul, 
Let taming abstinence repress 

The rebel, and control. 

To God the Father glory be, 

And to His Only Son, 
And to the Spirit, One and Three, 

While endless ages run. 

Littlemore. February, 1812. 



TEECE. 219 



CXXIX. 

TEECE. 

Nunc Sancte nobis Spiritus. 

Come, Holy Ghost, who ever One 
Reignest with Father and with Son, 
It is the hour, our souls possess 
With Thy full flood of holiness. 

Let flesh, and heart, and lips, and mind, 
Sound forth our witness to mankind ; 
And love light up our mortal frame, 
Till others catch the living flame. 

Now to the Father, to the Son, 
And to the Spirit, Three in One, 
Be praise and thanks and glory given 
By men on earth, hy Saints in heaven. 



220 SEXT. 



cxxx. 
SEXT. . 

Rector potens, verax Dens. 

God, who canst not change nor fail, 
Guiding the hours, as they roll by, 

Bright'ning with beams the morning pale, 
And burning in the mid- day sky, 

Quench Thou the fires of hate and strife, 
The wasting fever of the heart ; 

From perils guard our feeble life, 
And to our souls Thy peace impart. 

Grant this, Father, Only Son, 
And Holy Spirit, God of grace, 

To whom all glory, Three in One, 
Be given in every time and place. 



xone. 221 



CXXXI. 

NONE. 

Herum Deus tenax vigor. 

O Gob, unchangeable and true, 

Of all the Life and Power, 
Dispensing light in silence through 

Every successive hour, 

Lord, brighten our declining day, 

That it may never wane, 
Till death, when all things round decay, 

Brings back the morn again. 

This grace on Thy redeem' d confer, 

Father, Co-equal Son, 
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter, 

Eternal Three in One. 



222 VESPERS — SUNDAY. 



CXXXII. 

YESPEES— SUNDAY. 

Lucis Creator optime. 

Father of Lights, by whom each day 

Is kindled out of night, 
Who, when the heavens were made, didst lay 

Their rudiments in light ; 
Thou, who didst bind and blend in one 

The glistening morn and evening pale. 
Hear Thou our plaint, when light is gone, 
And lawlessness and strife prevail. 

Hear, lest the whelming weight of crime 

Wreck us with life in view ; 
Lest thoughts and schemes of sense and time 

Earn us a sinner's due. 
So may we knock at Heaven's door, 

And strive the immortal prize to win, 
Continually and evermore 

Guarded without and pure within. 



YESPEES — SUNDAY. 223 

Grant this, Father, Only Son, 

And Spirit, God of grace, 
To whom all worship shall be done 

In every time and place. 



224 VESPERS — MONDAY. 



CXXXIII. 

VESPEES— MONDAY. 

Immense coeli conditor. 

Lord of unbounded space, 
Who, lest the sky and main 
Should mix, and heaven should lose its place, 
Didst the rude waters chain ; 



Parting the moist and rare, 
That rills on earth might flow 
To soothe the angry flame, whene'er 
It ravens from below : 



Pour on us of Thy grace 
The everlasting spring ; 
Lest our frail steps renew the trace 
Of the ancient wandering. 



YE SPEES MONDAY . 225 

May faith in lustre grow, 

And rear her star in heaven, 
Paling all sparks of earth below, 

Unquench'd by damps of even. 

Grant it, Father, Son, 

And Holy Spirit of grace, 
To whom be glory, Three in One, 

In every time and place. 



226 VESPERS — TUESDAY. 



CXXXIV. 

VESPEES— TUESDAY. 

Telluris alme conditor. 

All-bou^tieul Creator, who, 

When Thou didst mould the world, didst drain 
The waters from the mass, that so 

Earth mio;ht immovable remain : 



That its dull clods it might transmute 
To golden flowers in vale or wood, 

To juice of thirst- allaying fruit, 

And grateful herbage spread for food ; 

Wash Thou our smarting wounds and hot, 
In the cool freshness of Thy grace ; 

Till tears start forth the past to blot, 
And cleanse and calm Thy holy place ; 



VESPEES — TUESDAY . 227 

Till we obey Thy full behest, 

Shun the world's tainted touch and breath, 
Joy in what highest is and best, 

And gain a spell to baffle death. 

Grant it, Father, Only Son, 

And Holy Spirit, God of grace, 
To whom all glory, Three in One, 

Ee given in every time and place. 



Q 2 



228 VESPERS — WEDNESDAY. 



CXXXY. 

YESPERS— WEDNESDAY. 

Coeli Deus sanctissime. 

Lord, who, thron'd in the holy height, 
Through plains of ether didst diffuse 
The dazzling beams of light, 
In soft transparent hues ; 

• 
Who didst, on the fourth day, in heaven 
Light the fierce cresset of the sun, 
And the meek moon at even, 
And stars that wildly run ; 

That they might mark and arbitrate 
'Twixt alternating night and day, 
And tend the train sedate 
Of months upon their way ; 



TESPEES — WEDNESDAY. 229 

Clear, Lord, the brooding night within, 
And clean these hearts for Thy abode, 
Unlock the spell of sin, 
Crumble its giant load. 



Grant it, Father, Only Son, 
And Holy Spirit, God of grace, 
To whom all praise be done 
In every time and place. 



230 YESPEKS — THURSDAY. 



OXXXVI. 

VESPERS— THURSDAY. 
Magnse Deus potentiae. 

God, who hast given 

the sea and the sky, 
To fish and to bird 

for a dwelling to keep, 
Both sons of the waters, 

one low and one high, 
Ambitious of heaven, 

yet sunk in the deep ; 

Save. Lord, Thy servants, 

whom Thou hast new made 
In a laver of blood, 

lest they trespass and die ; 
Lest pride should elate, 

or sin should degrade, 
And they stumble on earth, 

or be dizzied on high. 



YESPEES — THURSDAY. 231 

To the Father and Son 
And the Spirit be done, 
Now and always, 
Glory and praise. 



232 YESPEKS FRIDAY. 



CXXXYII. 

VESPEKS— FRIDAY. 

Hominis superne Conditor. 

Whom all obey, — 
Maker of man ! who from Thy height 
Badest the dull earth bring to light 
All creeping things, and the fierce might 

Of beasts of prey ; — 

And the huge make 
Of wild or gentler animal, 
Springing from nothing at Thy call, 
To serve in their due time, and all 

For sinners' sake ; 

Shield us from ill ! 
Come it by passion's sudden stress, 
Lurk in our mind's habitual dress, 
Or through our actions seek to press 

Upon our will. 



VESPERS — ERIDAT. 233 

Vouchsafe the prize 
Of sacred joy's perpetual mood, 
And service-seeking gratitude, 
And love to quell each strife or feud, 

If it arise. 

Grant it, Lord ! 
To whom, the Father, Only Son, 
And Holy Spirit, Three in One, 
In heaven and earth all praise be done, 

With one accord. 



234 YESPEES — SATURDAY. 

CXXXYIII. 

YESPEES— SATUEDAY. 

Jam sol recedit igneus. 

The red sun is gone, 

Thou Light of the heart, 
Blessed Three, Holy One, 
To Thy servants a sun 
Everlasting impart. 

There were Lauds in the morn, 
Here are Yespers at even ; 
may we adorn 
Thy Temple new born 

With our voices in Heaven. 

To the Father be praise, 

And praise to the Son 
And the Spirit always, 
While the infinite days 
Of eternity run. 



COMPLINE. 235 



CXXXIX. 

COMPLINE. 

Te lucis ante terminum. 

Now that the day-light dies away, 

By all Thy grace and love, 
Thee, Maker of the world, we pray 

To watch our bed above. 

Let dreams depart and phantoms fly, 

The offspring of the night, 
Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine eye, 

Pure in our foe's despite. 

This grace on Thy redeemed confer, 

Father, Co-equal Son, 
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter, 

Eternal Three in One. 



236 ADVENT YESPEES 



CXL. 

ADVENT— VESPERS. 

Creator alme siderum. 

Ceeatoe of the starry pole, 
Saviour of all who live, 

And light of every faithful soul, 
Jesu, these prayers receive. 

Who, sooner than our foe malign 
Should triumph, from above 

Didst come, to be the medicine 
Of a sick world, in love ; 



And the deep wounds to cleanse and cure 

Of a whole race, didst go, 
Pure Victim, from a Virgin pure, 

The bitter Cross unto. 



ADYENT — YESPERS. 237 

Who hast a Name, and hast a Power, 

The height and depth to sway, 
And Angels bow, and devils cower, 

In transport or dismay ; 

Thou too shalt be our Judge at length 

Lord, in Thy grace bestow 
Thy weapons of celestial strength, 

And snatch us from the foe. 

Honour and glory, power and praise, 

To Father, and to Son, 
And Holy Ghost, be paid always, 

The Eternal Three in One. 



238 ADVENT — MATINS. 



CXLI. 

ADVENT— MATINS. 

Verbum supermini prodiens. 

Supernal Word, proceeding from 
The Eternal Father's breast, 

And in the end of ages come, 
To aid a world distrest ; 

Enlighten, Lord, and set on fire 

Our spirits with Thy love, 
That, dead to earth, they may aspire 

And live to joys above. 

That, when the judgment- seat on high 
Shall fix the sinner's doom, 

And to the just a glad voice cry, 
Come to your destined home ; 



ADVENT — MATINS. 239 

Safe from the black and yawning lake 

Of restless, endless pain, 
We may the face of God partake, 

The bliss of heaven attain. 

To God the Father, God the Son, 

And Holy Ghost, to Thee, 
As heretofore, when time is done, 

Unending glory be. 



240 ADYENT — LAUDS. 



CXLII. 

ADVENT— LAUDS. 

En clara vox redarguit. 

Habk, a joyful voice is thrilling, 
And each dim and winding way 

Of the ancient Temple filling ; 
Dreams, depart ! for it is day. 

Christ is coming ! — from thy "bed 

Earth-bound soul, awake and spring,- 

With the sun new-risen to shed 
Health on human suffering. 

Lo ! to grant a pardon free, 

Comes a willing Lamb from Heaven : 
Sad and tearful, hasten we, 

One and all, to be forgiven. 



ADVENT — LAUDS. 241 

Once again He comes in light, 
Girding earth with fear and woe ; 

Lord ! be Thou our loving Might, 
From our guilt and ghostly foe. 

To the Father, and the Son, 
And the Spirit, who in Heaven 

Ever witness, Three and One, 
Praise on earth be ever given. 



242 THE TEANSFIGTJEATION — MATINS. 



CXLIII. 

THE TEA1STSFIGUKATI0N— MATINS. 

Quicunque Christum quseritis. 

te who seek the Lord, 

Lift up your eyes on high, 
For there He doth the Sign accord 

Of His bright majesty. 

We see a dazzling sight 
That shall outlive all time, 

Older than depth or starry height, 
Limitless and sublime. 

'Tis He for Israel's fold 

And heathen tribes decreed, 

The King to Abraham pledged of old 
And his unfailing seed. 



THE TRANSFIGURATION — MATINS. 243 

Prophets foretold His birth, 

And witness'd when He came, 
The Father speaks to all the earth 

To hear, and own His name. 

To Jesus, who displays 

To babes His beaming face, 
Be, with the Father, endless praise, 

And with the Spirit of grace. Amen. 



n 2 



2M THE TRANSFIGURATION — LAUDS. 



CXLIT. 

THE TRANSFIGURATION— LAUDS. 

Lux alma Jesu. 

Light of the anxious heart, 

Jesu, Thou dost appear, 
To bid the gloom of guilt depart, 

And shed Thj sweetness here. 

Joyous is he, with whom, 

God's Word, Thou dost abide ; 

Sweet Light of our eternal home, 
To fleshly sense denied. 

Brightness of God above ! 

Unfathomable grace ! 
Thy Presence be a fount of love 

Within Thy chosen place. 



THE TRANSFIGURATION LAUDS. 245 

To Thee, whom children see, 

The Father ever blest, 
The Holy Spirit, One and Three, 

Be endless praise addrest. Amen. 



246 FOE A 1TAUTTK. 



CXLT. 

FOE A MAETYE. 

Deus tuorum militum. 

God, of Thy soldiers 

the Portion and Crown, 
Spare Thy people, who hymn 

the praise of the Blest ; 
Earth's bitter joys, 

its lures and its frown, 
He scann'd them and scorn'd, 

and so is at rest. 

Thy Martyr he ran 

all valiantly o'er 
A highway of blood 

for the prize Thou hast given. 
We kneel at Thy feet, 

and meekly implore, 
That our pardon may wait 

on his triumph in heaven. 



FOR A MARTTH. 247 

Honour and praise 

To the Father and Son 

And the Spirit be done 
Now and always. Amen. 



248 OX THE FEAST OP A CONFESSOR BISHOP, 



CXLYI. 

FOE A CONFESSOR BISHOP. 

Christ e Pastorum l . 

Thou, of shepherds Prince and Head, 

Now on a Bishop's festal-day 
Thy flock to many a shrine have sped 
Their vows to pay. 

He to the high and dreadful throne 

Urged by no false inspirings, prest, 
Nor on hot daring of his own, 
But Thy behest. 

And so, that soldier good and tried, 

From the full horn of heavenly grace, 
Thy Spirit did anoint, to guide 
Thy ransom'd race. 

1 From the Parisian Breviary. 



ON" THE FEAST OE A CONFESSOR BISHOP. 249 

And he becomes a father true, 

Spending and spent, when troubles fall, 
A pattern and a servant too, 
All things to all. 

His pleading sets the sinner free, 

He soothes the sick, he lifts the low, 
Powerful in word, deep teacher, he, 
To quell the foe. 

Grant us, Christ, his prayers above, 
And grace below to sing Thy praise, 
The Father's power, the Spirit's love, 
Now and always. 

Liitlemore, February 7, 1842. 



250 ETHELWALD. 



CXLTII. 

ETHELWALD. 

(From St. Bede's Metrical History of St. Cuthhert.) 

Between two comrades dear, 
Zealous and true as they, 
Thou, prudent Ethelwald, didst bear 
In that high home the sway. 



A man, who ne'er, 'tis said, 
Would of his graces tell, 
Or with what arms be triumphed 
Over the Dragon fell. 



So down to us hath come 
A memorable word, 
Which in unguarded season from 
His blessed lips was heard. 



ETHELWALD. 251 

It chanced, that, as the Saint 
Drank in with faithful ear 
Of Angel tones the whispers faint, 
Thus spoke a brother dear : 

" why so many a pause, 

Thwarting thy words' full stream, 
Till her dark line Oblivion draws 
Across the broken theme ? " 

He answered : " Till thou seal 
To sounds of earth thine ear, 
Sweet friend, be sure thou ne'er shalt feel 
Angelic voices near," 

But then the hermit blest 
A sudden change came o'er ; 
He shudders, sobs, and smites his breast, 
Is mute, then speaks once more : 

" by the Name Most High, 
What I have now let fall, 
Hush, till I lay me down to die, 
And go the way of all !" 



252 ETHELWALD. 

Thus did a Saint in fear 
His gifts celestial hide ; 
Thus did an Angel standing near 
Proclaim them far and wide. 

LittUmore, 1844. 



CAKDLEMAS. 253 



CXLVIII. 



CANDLEMAS. 

(A Song.) 

The Angel-lights of Christmas morn, 

Which shot across the sky, 
Away they pass at Candlemas, 

They sparkle and they die. 

Comfort of earth is brief at best, 

Although it be divine ; 
Like funeral lights for Christmas gone, 

Old Simeon's tapers shine. 

And then for eight long weeks and more, 

We wait in twilight grey, 
Till the high candle sheds a beam 

On Holy Saturday. 

We wait along the penance-tide 

Of solemn fast and prayer ; 
While song is hush'd, and lights grow dim 

In the sin-laden air. 



254 CANDLEMAS. 

And while the sword in Mary's soul 

Is driven home, we hide 
In our own hearts, and count the wounds 

Of passion and of pride. 

And still, though Candlemas be spent 

And Alleluias o'er, 
Mary is music in our need, 

And Jesus light in store. 

The Oratory. 1849. 



THE PILGRIM QUEEN. 255 



CXLIX. 

THE PILGRIM QUEEN. 

(A Song.) 

There sat a Lady 

all on the ground, 
Rays of the morning 

circled her round, 
Save thee, and hail to thee 

Gracious and Fair, 
In the chill twilight 

what wouldst thou there ? 

" Here I sit desolate," 

sweetly said she, 
" Though I'm a queen, 

and my name is Marie : 
Robbers have rifled 

my garden and store, 
Foes they have stolen 

my heir from my bower, 



256 THE PILGEIM QUEEN. 

" They said they could keep Him 

far better than I, 
In a palace all His, 

planted deep and raised high. 
'Twas a palace of ice, 

hard and cold as were they, 
And when summer came, 

it all melted away. 



" Next would they barter Him, 

Him the Supreme, 
For the spice of the desert, 

and gold of the stream ; 
And me they bid wander 

in weeds and alone, 
In this green merry land 

which once was my own. 



I look'd on that Lady, 

and out from her eyes 
Came the deep glowing blue 

of Italy's skies ; 



THE PILGRIM QUEEN. 257 

And she raised up her head 

and she smiled, as a Queen 

On the day of her crowning, 
so bland and serene. 

" A moment," she said, 

" and the dead shall revive ; 
The giants are failing, 

the Saints are alive ; 
I am coming to rescue 

my home and my reign, 
And Peter and Philip 

are close in my train." 

The Oratory. 1849. 



258 THE MONTH OF MART. 



CL. 

THE MONTH OF MAEY. 

(A Song.) 

G-eeen are the leaves, and sweet the flowers, 

And rich the hues of May ; 
We see them in the gardens round, 

And market-paniers gay : 
And e'en among our streets, and lanes, 

And alleys, we descry, 
By fitful gleams, the fair sunshine, 

The blue transparent sky. 

Chorus. 

Mother maid, be thou our aid, 

Now in the opening year ; 
Lest sights of earth to sin give birth, 

And bring the tempter near. 



THE MOjSTH OP MAIIY. 259 

Green is the grass, but wait awhile, 

'Twill grow, and then will wither ; 
The flowrets, brightly as they smile, 

Shall perish altogether : 
The merry sun, you sure would say, 

It ne'er could set in gloom ; 
But earth's best joys have all an end, 

And sin, a heavy doom. 

Chorus. 

But Mother maid, thou dost not fade ; 

With stars above thy brow, 
And the pale moon beneath thy feet, 

For ever throned art thou. 



The green green grass, the glittering grove, 

The heaven's majestic dome, 
They image forth a tenderer bower, 

A more refulgent home ; 
They tell us of that Paradise 

Of everlasting rest, 
And that high Tree, all flowers and fruit, 

The sweetest, yet the best, 
s 2 



260 THE MONTH OF MARY. 

Chorus. 
Mary, pure and beautiful, 

Thou art the Queen of May ; 
Our garlands wear about thy hair, 

And they will ne'er decay. 

The Oratory. 1850. 



THE QUEEN OF THE SEASONS. 261 



CLT. 

THE QUEEN OF THE SEASONS. 

(A Song for an inclement May). 

All is divine 

which the Highest has made, 
Through the days that He wrought, 

till the day when He stay'd 
Above and below, 

within and around, 
From the centre of space, 

to its uttermost bound. 

In beauty surpassing 

the Universe smiled, 

On the morn of its birth, 

like an innocent child, 



202 THE QUEEtf OF THE SEASONS. 

Or like the rich bloom 

of some gorgeous flower ; 
And the Father rejoiced 

in the work of His power. 



Yet worlds brighter still, 

and a brighter than those, 
And a brighter again, 

He had made, had He chose ; 
And you never could name 

that conceivable best, 
To exhaust the resources 

the Maker possess'd. 



But I know of one work 

of His Infinite Hand, 
Which special and singular 

ever must stand ; 
So perfect, so pure, 

and of gifts such a store, 
That even Omnipotence 

ne'er shall do more. 



THE QUEEN OE THE SEASONS. 263 

The freshness of May, 

and the sweetness of June, 
And the fire of July 

in its passionate noon, 
Munificent August, 

September serene, 
Are together no match 

for my glorious Queen. 



Mary, all months 

and all days are thine own, 
In thee lasts their joyousness, 

when they are gone ; 
And we give to thee May, 

not because it is best, 
But because it comes first, 

and is pledge of the rest. 

The Oratory. 1850. 



264 YALENTIKE TO A LITTLE GIEL. 



CLII. 

VALENTINE TO A LITTLE GIEL. 

Little maiden, dost thou pine 
For a faithful Valentine ? 
Art thou scanning timidly 
Every face that meets thine eye ? 
Art thou fancying there may be 
Fairer face than thou dost see ? 
Little maiden, scholar mine, 
Wouldst thou have a Valentine ? 



Go and ask, my little child, 
Ask the Mother undefiled : 
Ask, for she will draw thee near, 
And will whisper in thine ear : — 



VALENTINE TO A LITTLE GIRL. 265 

" Valentine ! the name is good ; 

For it comes of lineage high, 

And a famous family : 
And it tells of gentle blood, 
Noble blood, — and nobler still, 

For its owner freely pour'd 
Every drop there was to spill 

In the quarrel of his Lord. 
Yalentine ! I know the name, 
Many martyrs bear the same ; 
And they stand in glittering ring 
Round their warrior God and King, — 

Who before and for them bled, — 

With their robes of ruby red, 
And their swords of cherub flame." 



Yes ! there is a plenty there, 
Knights without reproach or fear, — 
Such St. Denys, such St. George, 
Martin, Maurice, Theodore, 
And a hundred thousand more ; 
Guerdon gain'd and warfare o'er, 
By that sea without a surge, 



266 VALENTINE TO A LITTLE (HEX. 

And beneath the eternal sky, 
And the beatific Sun, 

In Jerusalem above, 
Valentine is every one ; 
Choose from out that company 

Whom to serve, and whom to love. 

The Oratory. i 1850. 



ST. PHILIP KERI IN HIS MISSION. 267 



CLIII. 

ST. PHILIP NERI IN HIS MISSION. 

(A Song.) 

In the far North our lot is cast, 
Where faithful hearts are few ; 

Still are we Philip's children dear, 
And Peter's soldiers true. 

Pounder and Sire ! to mighty Rome, 

Beneath St. Peter's shade. 
Early thy vow of loyal love 

And ministry was paid. 

The solemn porch, and portal high, 

Of Peter was thy home ; 
The world's Apostle he, and thou 

Apostle of his Rome. 

And first in the old catacomhs, 

In galleries long and deep, 
Where martyr Popes had ruled the flock, 

And slept their glorious sleep, 



268 ST. PHILIP NEEI LN" HIS MISSION. 

There didst thou pass the nights in prayer, 

Until at length there came, 
Down on thy breast, new lit for thee, 

The Pentecostal flame ; — 

Then, in that heart- consuming love, 

Didst walk the city wide, 
And lure the noble and the young 

From Babel's pomp and pride ; 

And, gathering them within thy cell, 

Unveil the lustre bright, 
And beauty of thy inner soul, 

And gain them by the sight. 

And thus to Eome, for Peter's faith 
Far known, thou didst impart 

Thy lessons of the hidden life, 
And discipline of heart. 

And as the Apostle, on the hill 

Facing the Imperial Town, 
First gazed upon his fair domain, 

Then on the cross lay down, 



ST. PHILIP NEEI IN HIS MISSION. 269 

So thou, from out the streets of Eome 

Didst turn thy failing eye 
Unto that mount of martyrdom 1 , 

Take leave of it, and die. 

The Oratory. 1850. 

1 On the day of his death, Philip, " at the beginning of his 
Mass, remained for some time looking fixedly at the hill of 
St. Onofrio, which was visible from the chapel, just as if he 
saw some great vision. On coming to the Gloria in Excelsis, 
he began to sing, which was a very unusual thing for him, 
and he sang the whole of it with the greatest joy and devo- 
tion," &c. — Bacci's Life. 



270 ST. PHILIP Itf HIMSELF. 



CLiy. 
ST. PHILIP m HIMSELF. 

(A Song.) 

The holy Monks, conceal' d from men, 
In midnight choir, or studious cell, 

In sultry field, or wintry glen, 

The holy Monks, I love them well, 

The Friars too, the zealous hand 

By Dominic or Francis led, 
They gather, and they take their stand 

Where foes are fierce, or friends have fled. 

And then the unwearied Company, 

Which bears the Name of sacred might, 

The Knights of Jesus, they defy 
The fiend, — full eager for the fight. 

'Yet there is one I more affect 

Than Jesuit, Hermit, Monk, or Friar, 

'Tis an old man of sweet aspect, 
I love him more, I more admire. 



ST. PHILIP IN HIMSELF. 271 

I know him by his head of snow, 
His ready smile, his keen full eye, 

His words which kindle as they flow, 
Save he be rapt in ecstasy. 

He lifts his hands, there issues forth 
A fragrance virginal and rare, 

And now he ventures to our North, 
Where hearts are frozen as the air. 

He comes, by grace of his address, 
By the sweet music of his face, 

And his low tones of tenderness, 
To melt a noble, stubborn race. 

sainted Philip, Father dear, 
Look on thy little ones, that we 

Thy loveliness may copy here, 
And in the eternal Kingdom see. 

The Oratory. 1850. 



272 st. philip i:n t his god. 



CLV. 

ST. PHILIP IN HIS GOD. 

Philip, on thee the glowing ray 

Of heaven came down upon thy prayer, 

To melt thy heart, and burn away 
All that of earthly dross was there. 

Thy soul became as purest glass, 

Through which the Brightness Increate 

In undimm'd majesty might pass, 
Transparent and illuminate. 

And so, on Philip when we gaze, 
We see the image of his Lord ; 

The Saint dissolves amid the blaze 

Which circles round the Living Word. 



ST. PHILIP IN HIS GOD. 273 

The Meek, the Wise, none else is here, 

Dispensing light to men below ; 
His awful accents fill the ear, 

Now keen as fire, now soft as snow. 

As snow, those inward pleadings fall, 
As soft, as bright, as pure, as cool, 

With gentle weight and gradual, 
And sink into the feverish soul. 

The Sinless One, He comes to seek, 
The dreary heart, the spirit lone, 

Tender of natures proud or weak, 
Not less than if they were His own. 

He takes and scans the sinner o'er, 
Handling His scholars one by one, 

Weighing what they can bear, before 
He gives the penance to be done. 

Jesu, to Philip's sons reveal 

That gentlest wisdom from above, 

To spread compassion o'er their zeal, 
And mingle patience with their love. 

The Oratory. 1850. 

T 



27 4i GUABDIAN ANGEL. 



CLYI. 

GUABDIAN ANGEL. 

My oldest friend, mine from the hour 
When first I drew my breath ; 

My faithful friend, that shall be mine, 
Unfailing, till my death ; . 

Thou hast been ever at my side ; 

My Maker to thy trust 
Consign'd my soul, what time He framed 

The infant child of dust. 

No beating heart in holy prayer, 

No faith, inform' d aright, 
Gave me to Joseph's tutelage, 

Or Michael's conquering might. 

Nor patron Saint, nor Mary's love, 

The dearest and the best, 
Has known my being, as thou hast known, 

And blest, as thou hast blest. 



GUARDIAN ANGEL. 275 

Thou wast my sponsor at the font ; 

And thou, each budding year, 
Didst whisper elements of truth 

Into my childish ear. 

And when, ere boyhood yet was gone, 

My rebel spirit fell, 
Ah ! thou didst see, and shudder too, 

Yet bear each deed of Hell. 

And then in turn, when judgments came, 

And scared me back again, 
Thy quick soft breath was near to soothe 

And hallow every pain. 

Oh ! who of ail thy toils and cares 

Can tell the tale complete, 
To place me under Mary's smile, 

And Peter's royal feet ! 

And thou wilt hang about my bed, 

When life is ebbing low ; 
Of doubt, impatience, and of gloom, 

The jealous sleepless foe. 
t 2 



276 GUAEDIAK" ANGEL. 

Mine, when I stand before the Judge ; 

And mine, if spared to stay- 
Within the golden furnace, till 

My sin is burn'd away. 

And mine, Brother of my soul, 

When my release shall come ; 
Thy gentle arms shall lift me then, 

Thy wings shall waft me home. 

The Oratory. 1853. 



THE GOLDEN PEISOK, 277 



CLYII. 

THE GOLDEN PBISON. 

Weep not for me, when I am gone. 
Nor spend thy faithful breath 

In grieving o'er the spot or hour 
Of all- en shrouding death ; 

Nor waste in idle praise thy love 
On deeds of head or hand, 

Which live within the living Book, 
Or else are writ in sand ; 

But let it be thy best of prayers, 
That I may find the grace 

To reach the holy house of toll, 
The frontier penance-place, — 

To reach that golden palace bright, 

Where souls elect abide, 
Waiting their certain call to Heaven, 

With Angels at their side ; 



278 THE GOLDEN PETSOIS". 

Where hate, nor pride, nor fear torments 
The transitory guest, 

But in the willing agony- 
He plunges, and is blest. 

And as the fainting patriarch gain'd 

His needful halt mid- way, 
And then refresh' d pursued his path, 

Where up the mount it lay, 

So pray, that, rescued from the storm 

Of heaven's eternal ire, 
I may lie down, then rise again, 

Safe, and yet saved by fire. 

The Oratory. 1853. 



HEATHEN GREECE. 279 



CLYIII. 

HEATHEN GEEECE. 

(A Song.) 

Where are the Islands of the Blest ? 
They stud the iEgean Sea ; 

And where the deep Eljsian rest ? 

It haunts the vale where Peneus strong 
Pours his incessant stream along, 
"While craggy ridge and mountain bare 
Cut keenly through the liquid air, 
And, in their own pure tints array'd, 
Scorn earth's green robes which change and fade, 
And stand in beauty undecay'd, 
Guards of the bold and free. 

For what is Afric, but the home 

Of burning Phlegethon ? 
What the low beach and silent gloom, 



280 HEATHEN GEEECE. 

And chilling mists of that dull river, 
Along whose bank the thin ghosts shiver, — 
The thin wan ghosts that once were men, — 
But Tauris, isle of moor and fen, 
Or, dimly traced by seamen's ken, 
The pale-cliff'd Albion. 

The Oratory. 1856. 



A MARTYR CONVERT. • 281 

CLIX. 

A MAETYE CONYEET. 

(A Hymni) 

The number of Thine own complete, 

Sum up and make an end ; 
Sift clean the chaff, and house the wheat ; 

And then, Lord, descend. 

Descend, and solve by that descent 

This mystery of life ; 
Where good and ill, together blent, 

Wage an undying strife. 

For rivers twain are gushing still, 

And pour a mingled flood ; 
Good in the very depths of ill, 

111 in the heart of good. 

The last are first, the first are last, 

As angel eyes behold ; 
These from the sheep-cote sternly cast, 

Those welcomed to the fold. 



282 , A MA.KTYR CONVEBT. 

No Christian home, no pastor's eye, 

No preacher's vocal zeal, 
Moved Thy dear Martyr to defy 

The prison and the wheel. 

Forth from the heathen ranks she stept, 

The forfeit crown to claim 
Of Christian souls who had not kept 

Their birthright and their name. 

Grace form'd her out of sinful dust ; 

She knelt a soul denied, 
She rose in all the faith, and trust, 

And sweetness of a child. 

And in the freshness of that love 
She preach'd, by word and deed, 

The mysteries of the world above, 
Her new-found, glorious creed. 

And running, in a little hour, 
Of life the course complete, 

She reach'd the Throne of endless power, 
And sits at Jesu's feet. 



A MARTYR CONYERT. 283 

Her spirit there, her body here, 

Make one the earth and sky ; 
We use her name, we touch her bier, 

We know her God is nigh. 

Praise to the Father, as is meet, 

Praise to the Only Son, 
Praise to the Holy Paraclete 

While endless ages run. 

The Oratory. 1856. 



284 ST. PHILIP IN HIS SCHOOL. 

CLX. 

ST. PHILIP IN HIS SCHOOL. 

(A Song.) 

This is the Saint of gentleness and kindness, 

Cheerful in penance, and in precept winning ; 
Patiently healing of their pride and blindness, 
Souls that are sinning. 

This is the Saint, who, when the world allures us, 

Cries her false wares, and opes her magic coffers, 
Points to a better city, and secures us 

With richer offers. 

Love is his bond, he knows no other fetter, 

Asks not our all, but takes whate'er we spare him, 
Willing to draw us on from good to better, 
As we can bear him. 

When he comes near to teach us and to bless us, 

Prayer is so sweet, that hours are but a minute; 
Mirth is so pure, though freely it possess us, 
Sin is not in it. 



ST. PHILIP IN HIS SCHOOL. 285 

Thus be conducts by holy paths and pleasant, 

Innocent souls, and sinful souls forgiven, 
Towards the bright palace where our God is present, 
Throned in high heaven. 

The Oratory. 1857. 



286 ST. PHILIP IN HIS DISCIPLES. 



CLXI. 

ST. PHILIP IN HIS DISCIPLES. 

(A Song.) 

I ask not for fortune, for silken attire, 
For servants to throng me, and crowds to admire ; 
I ask not for power, or for name or success, 
These do not content me, these never can bless. 



Let the world flaunt her glories ! each glittering 

prize, 
Though tempting to others, is naught in my eyes. 
A child of St. Philip, my master and guide, 
I would live as he lived, and would die as he died. 



Why should I be sadden'd, though friendless I be ? 
For who in his youth was so lonely as he ? 
If spited and mock'd, so was he, when he cried 
To his God on the cross to stand by his side. 



ST. PHILIP I]ST HIS DISCIPLES. 287 

If scanty my fare, yet how was he fed ? 

On olives and herbs and a small roll of bread. 

Are my joints and bones sore with aches and with 

pains ? 
Philip scourged his young flesh with fine iron 

chains. 

A closet his home 4 where he, year after year, 
Bore heat or cold greater than heat or cold here ; 
A rope stretch'd across it, and o'er it he spread 
His small stock of clothes ; and the floor was his 
bed. 

One lodging besides ; God's temple he chose, 
And he slept in its porch his few hours of repose ; 
Or studied by light v/hich the altar-lamp gave, 
Or knelt at the Martyr's victorious grave. 



I'm ashamed of myself, of my tears and my tongue, 

So easily fretted, so often unstrung ; 

Mad at trifles, to which a chance moment gives 

birth ; 
Complaining of heaven, and complaining of earth. 



288 ST. PHILIP IN HIS DISCIPLES. 

So now, with his help, no cross will I fear, 

But will linger resign'd through my pilgrimage here. 

A child of St. Philip, my master and guide, 

I will live as he lived, and will die as he died. 

The Oratory. 1857. 



FOR THE DEAD. 289 

CLXII. 

FOE THE DEAD. 

(A Hymn?) 

Help, Lord, the souls which Thou hast made, 

The souls to Thee so dear, 
In prison, for the debt unpaid 

Of sins committed here. 

Those holy souls, they suffer on, 

Resign'd in heart and will, 
Until Thy high behest is done, 

And justice has its fill. 
For daily falls, for pardon'd crime, 

They joy to undergo 
The shadow of Thy cross sublime, 

The remnant of Thy woe. 

Help, Lord, the souls which Thou hast made, 

The souls to Thee so dear, 
In prison, for the debt unpaid 

Of sins committed here. 

u 



290 FOR THE DEAD. 

Oh, by their patience of delay, 

Their hope amid their pain, 
Their saered zeal to burn away 

Disfigurement and stain ; 
Oh, by their fire of love, not less 

In keenness than the flame, 
Oh, by their very helplessness, 

Oh, by Thy own great Name, 

Good Jesu, help ! sweet Jesu, aid 

The souls to Thee most dear, 

In prison, for the debt unpaid 
Of sins committed here. 

The Oratory. 1857. 



THE TWO WORLDS. 291 



CLXIII. 

THE TWO WOELDS. 

Unyetl, Lord, and on us shine 

In glory and in grace ; 
This gaudy world grows pale before 

The beauty of Thy face. 

Till Thou art seen, it seems to be 

A sort of fairy ground, 
Where suns unsetting light the sky, 

And flowers and fruits abound. 

But when Thy keener, purer beam 
Is pour'd upon our sight, 

It loses all its power to charm, 
And what was day is night, 
u 2 



292 THE TWO WOELDS. 

Its noblest toils are then the scourge 
Which made Thy blood to flow ; 

Its joys are but the treacherous thorns 
Which circled round Thy brow. 

And thus, when we renounce for Thee 

Its restless aims and fears, 
The tender memories of the past, 

The hopes of coming years, 

Poor is our sacrifice, whose eyes 

Are lighted from above ; 
We offer what we cannot keep, 

What we have ceased to love. 

The Oratory. 1862. 



THE DREAM OF GEEOSTITJS. 293 



CLXTI. 

THE DBEAM OF GEKONTIUS. 

§1- 

Geeois-tius. 

Jestj, Maeia — I am near to death, 

And Thou art calling me ; I know it now. 
Not by the token of this faltering breath, 

This chill at heart, this dampness on my brow,- 
(Jesu, have mercy ! Mary, pray for me !) 

'Tis this new feeling, never felt before, 
(Be with me, Lord, in my extremity !) 

That I am going, that I am no more. 
'Tis this strange innermost abandonment, 

(Lover of souls ! great God ! I look to Thee,) 
This emptying out of each constituent 

And natural force, by which I come to be. 



294 THE DREAM OF GEROSTITJS. 

Pray for me, my friends ; a visitant 

Is knocking his dire summons at my door, 
The like of whom, to scare me and to daunt, 

Has never, never come to me before ; 
'Tis death, — O loving friends, your prayers ! — 'tis 

he! . . . 
As though my very being had given way, 

As though I was no more a substance now, 
And could fall back on nought to be my stay, 

(Help, loving Lord ! Thou my sole Refuge, 
Thou,) 
And turn no whither, but must needs decay 

And drop from out the universal frame 
Into that shapeless, scopeless, blank abyss, 

That utter nothingness, of which I came : 
This is it that has come to pass in me ; 
horror ! this it is, my dearest, this ; 
So pray for me, my friends, who have not strength 
to pray. 

Assistants. 
Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. 
Holy Mary, pray for him. 
All holy Angels, pray for him. 
Choirs of the righteous, pray for him. 



THE DKEAM OF GEKONTniS. 295 

Holy Abraham, pray for him. 

St. John Baptist, St. Joseph, pray for him. 

St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. John, 

All Apostles, all Evangelists, pray for him. 

All holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for him. 

All holy Innocents, pray for him. 

All holy Martyrs, all holy Confessors, 

All holy Hermits, all Holy Virgins, 

All ye Saints of God, pray for him. 

Gekontius. 
Rouse thee, my fainting soul, and play the man ; 

And through such waning span 
Of life and thought as still has to be trod, 

Prepare to meet thy God. 
And while the storm of that bewilderment 

Is for. a season spent, 
And, ere afresh the ruin on me fall, 

Use well the interval. 

Assistants. 
Be merciful, be gracious ; spare him, Lord. 
Be merciful, be gracious ; Lord, deliver him. 
From the sins that are past ; 

From Thy frown and Thine ire ; 



296 THE DEEAM OE GEEO^TIUS. 

From the perils of dying ; 
From any complying 
With sin, or denying 
His Grod, or relying 

On self, at the last ; 

From the nethermost fire ; 

From all that is evil ; 

From power of the devil ; 

Thy servant deliver, 

For onee and for ever. 

By Thy birth, and by Thy Cross, 
Rescue him from endless loss ; 
By Thy death and burial, 
Save him from a final fall ; 
By Thy rising from the tomb, 
By Thy mounting up above, 
By the Spirit's gracious love, 
Save him in the day of doom. 

GrEKO^TITTS. 

Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus, 
De profundis oro te, 

Miserere, Judex meus, 
Parce mihi, Domine. 



THE DBEAM OF GEROSTTITTS. 297 

Firmly I believe and truly 

God is Three, and God is One ; 
And I next acknowledge duly 

Manhood taken by the Son. 
And I trust and hope most fully 

In that manhood crucified ; 
And each thought and deed unruly 

Do to death, as He has died. 
Simply to His grace and wholly 

Light and life and strength belong, 
And I love, supremely, solely, 

Him the holy, Him the strong. 
Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus, 

De profundis oro te, 
Miserere, Judex meus, 

Parce mihi, Domine. 
And I hold in veneration, 

For the love of Him alone, 
Holy Church, as His creation, 

And her teachings, as His own. 
And I take with joy whatever 

Now besets me, pain or fear, 
And with a strong will I sever 

All the ties which bind me here. 



298 THE DEEAM OE GEKOtfTIUS. 

Adoration aye be given, 

With and through the angelic host, 
To the God of earth and heaven, 

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 
Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus, 

De profundis oro te, 
Miserere, Judex meus, 

Mortis in discrimine. 

I can no more ; for now it comes again, 

That sense of ruin, which is worse than pain, 

That masterful negation and collapse - 

Of all that makes me man ; as though I bent 

Over the dizzy brink 

Of some sheer infinite descent ; 

Or worse, as though 

Down, down for ever I was falling through 

The solid framework of created things, 

And needs must sink and sink 

Into the vast abyss. And, crueller still, 

A fierce and restless fright begins to fill 

The mansion of my soul. And, worse and worse, 

Some bodily form of ill 

Floats on the wind, with many a loathsome curse 



THE DllEAM OF GEKONTITJS. 299 

Tainting the hallow' d air, and laughs, and flaps 
Its hideous wings, 

And makes me wild with horror and dismay. 
O Jesu, help ! pray for me, Mary, pray ! 
Some Angel, Jesu ! such as came to Thee 

In Thine own agony 

Mary, pray for me. Joseph, pray for me. 
Mary, pray for me. / 

Assistants. 
Rescue him, Lord, in this his evil hour, 
As of old so many by Thy gracious power : — 

(Amen.) 
Enoch and Elias from the common doom ; 

(Amen.) 
Noe from the waters in a saving home ; (Amen.) 
Abraham from th' abounding guilt of Heathenesse ; 

(Amen.) 
Job from all his multiform and fell distress ; 

(Amen.) 
Isaac, when his father's knife was raised to slay ; 

(Amen.) 
Lot from burning Sodom on its judgment-day ; 

(Amen.) 



300 THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS. 

Moses from the land of bondage and despair ; 

(Amen.) 
Daniel from the hungry lions in their lair ; 

(Amen.) 
And the Children Three amid the furnace-flame ; 

(Amen.) 
Chaste Susanna from the slander and the shame ; 

(Amen.) 
David from Golia and the wrath of Saul; (Amen.) 
And the two Apostles from their prison-thrall; 

(Amen.) 
Thecla from her torments ; (Amen :) 

— so to show Thy power, 
Kescue this This servant in his evil hour. 

Gerontius. 
Novissima hora est ; and I fain would sleep. 
The pain has wearied me. . . . Into Thy hands, 
Lord, into Thy hands .... 

The Priest. 
Proficiseere, anima Christiana, de hoc mundo ! 
Go forth upon thy journey, Christian soul ! 
Go from this world ! Go, in the Name of God 
The Omnipotent Father, who created thee ! 



THE DEEAM OF GEEONTITTS. 301 

Go, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, 

Son of the Living God, who bled for thee ! 

Go, in the Name of the Holy Spirit, who 

Hath been pour'd out on thee ! Go, in the name 

Of Angels and Archangels ; in the name 

Of Thrones and Dominations ; in the name 

Of Princedoms and of Powers ; and in the name 

Of Cherubim and Seraphim, go forth ! 

Go, in the name of Patriarchs and Prophets ; 

And of Apostles and Evangelists, 

Of Martyrs and Confessors ; in the name 

Of holy Monks and Hermits ; in the name 

Of holy Yirgins ; and all Saints of God, 

Both men and women, go ! Go on thy course ; 

And may thy place to-day be found in peace, 

And may thy dwelling be the Holy Mount 

Of Sion: — through the Name of Christ, our Lord. 



/ 



§2. 
Soul oe Geeo^tius. 

I went to sleep ; and now I am refresh'd, 
A strange refreshment : for I feel in me 
An inexpressive lightness, and a sense 



302 THE DKEAM OF GEKONTIUS. 

Of freedom, as I were at length myself, 

And ne'er had been before. How still it is ! 

I hear no more the busy beat of time, 

No, nor my fluttering breath, nor struggling pulse ; 

Nor does one moment differ from the next. 

I had a dream ; yes : — some one softly said 

" He's gone ;" and then a sigh went round the 

room. 
And then I surely heard a priestly voice 
Cry " Subvenite ;" and they knelt in prayer. 
I seem to hear him still ; but thin and low, 
And fainter and more faint the accents come, 
As at an ever- widening interval. 
Ah ! whence is this ? What is this severance ? 
This silence pours a solitariness 
Into the very essence of my soul ; 
And the deep rest, so soothing and so sweet, 
Hath something too of sternness and of pain. 
For it drives back my thoughts upon their spring 
By a strange introversion, and perforce 
I now begin to feed upon myself, 
Because I have nought else to feed upon. 

Am I alive or dead ? I am not dead, 



THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS. 303 

But in the body still ; for I possess 

A sort of confidence, which clings to me, 

That each particular organ holds its place 

As heretofore, combining with the rest 

Into one symmetry, that wraps me round, 

And makes me man ; and surely I could move, 

Did I but will it, every part of me. 

And yet I cannot to my sense bring home, 

By very trial, that I have the power. 

'Tis strange ; I cannot stir a hand or foot, 

I cannot make my fingers or my lips 

By mutual pressure witness each to each, 

Nor by the eyelid's instantaneous stroke 

Assure myself I have a body still. 

Nor do I know my very attitude, 

Nor if I stand, or lie, or sit, or kneel. 

So much I know, not knowing how I know, 

That the vast universe, where I have dwelt, 

Is quitting me, or I am quitting it. 

Or I or it is rushing on the wings 

Of light or lightning on an onward course, 

And we e'en now are million miles apart. 

Yet ... is this peremptory severance 



304 THE DBEAM OF GEKCXNTIUS. 

Wrought out in lengthening measurements of space, 

Which grow and multiply by speed and time ? 

Or am I traversing infinity 

By endless subdivision, hurrying back 

From finite towards infinitesimal, 

Thus dying out of the expanded world ? 

Another marvel : some one has me fast 
Within his ample palm ; 'tis not a grasp 
Such as they use on earth, but all around 
Over the surface of my subtle being, 
As though I were a sphere, and capable 
To be accosted thus, a uniform 
And gentle pressure tells me I am not 
Self-moving, but borne forward on my way. 
And hark ! I hear a singing ; yet in sooth 
I cannot of that music rightly say 
Whether I hear, or touch, or taste the tones. 
Oh, what a heart-subduing melody ! 

Angel. 
My work is done, 
My task is o'er, 

And so I come, 



THE DEEAM OE GEEONTXUS. 305 

Taking it home, 
For the crown is won, 

Alleluia, 
For evermore. 

My Father gave 
In charge to me 

This child of earth 
E'en from its birth, 
To serve and save, 
Alleluia, 
And saved is he. 

This child of clay 
To me was given. 

To rear and train 
By sorrow and pain 
In the narrow way, 
Alleluia. 
From earth to heaven. 

Soul. 
It is a member of that family 

Of wondrous beings, who, ere the worlds were 
made, 

x 



306 THE DBEAM OF GERONTIUS. 

Millions of ages back, have stood around 
The throne of God : — he never has known sin ; 
But through those cycles all but infinite, 
Has had a strong and pure celestial life, 
And bore to gaze on the unveil' d face of God, 
And drank from the eternal Fount of truth, 
And served Him with a keen ecstatic love. 
Hark ! he begins again. 

Angel. 

Lord, how Avonderful in depth and height, 

But most in man, how wonderful Thou art ! 
With what a love, what soft persuasive might 
Victorious o'er the stubborn fleshly heart, 
Thy tale complete of saints Thou dost provide, 
To 'fill the throne which Angels lost through pride ! 

He lay a grovelling babe upon the ground, 

Polluted in the blood of his first sire, 

With his whole essence shatter'd and unsound, 

And coil'd around his heart a demon dire, 

Which was not of his nature, but had skill 

To bind and form his op'ning mind to ill. 



THE DREAM OE GEEOOTIUS.- 307 

Then was I sent from heaven to set right 

The balance in his soul of truth and sin, 
And I have waged a long relentless fight, 

Resolved that death-environ'd spirit to win, 
Which from its fallen state, when all was lost, 
Had been repurchased at so dread a cost. 

what a shifting parti-colour' d scene 

Of hope and fear, of triumph and dismay, 
Of recklessness and penitence, has been 

The history of that dreary, life-long fray ! 
And the grace to nerve him and to lead, 
How patient, prompt, and lavish at his need I 

man, strange composite of heaven and earth ! 

Majesty dwarf d to baseness ! fragrant flower 
Running to poisonous seed ! and seeming worth 

Cloking corruption ! weakness mastering power! 
Who never art so near to crime and shame, 
As when thou hast achieved some deed of name • — 

How should ethereal natures comprehend 

A thing made up of spirit and of clay, 
Were we not tasked to nurse it and to tend, 
x 2 



308 THE DEEAM OF GEEO^TIUS. 

Link'd one to one throughout its mortal day ? 
More than the Seraph in his height of place, 
The Angel- guardian knows and loves the ran- 
som'd race. 

Sotjl. 
Now know I surely that I am at length 
Out of the body ; had I part with earth, 
I never could have drunk those accents in, 
And not have worshipp'd as a god the voice 
That was so musical ; but now I am 
So whole of heart, so calm, so self-possess'd, 
With such a full content, and with a sense 
So apprehensive and discriminant, 
As no temptation can intoxicate. 
Nor have I even terror at the thought 
That I am clasped by such a saintliness. 

AlSTGEL. 

All praise to Him, at whose sublime decree 

The last are first, the first become the last ; 

By whom the suppliant prisoner is set free, 

By whom proud first-borns from their thrones 
are cast ; 



THE DBEAM OF GEBONTIUS. 309 

Who raises Mary to be Queen of heaven, 
While Lucifer is left, condemn' d and unforgiven. 

§3. 

SOUL. 

I will address him. Mighty one, my Lord, 
My Guardian Spirit, all hail ! 

Atoel. 

All hail, my child ! 
My child and brother, hail ! what wouldest thou ? 

Soul. 
I would have nothing but to speak with thee 
For speaking's sake. I wish to hold with thee 
Conscious communion ; though I fain would know 
A maze of things, were it but meet to ask, 
And not a curiousness. 

Akgel. 

You cannot now 
Cherish a wish which ought not to be wish'd. 

Soul. 
Then I will speak. I ever had believed 
That on the moment when the struggling soul 



310 THE DEEAM OP GEEONTIUS. 

Quitted its mortal case, forthwith it fell 
Under the awful Presence of its God, 
There to be judged and sent to its own place 
What lets me now from going to my Lord ? 

Angel. 

Thou art not let ; but with extremest speed 
Art hurrying to the Just and Holy Judge : 
For scarcely art thou disembodied yet. 
Divide a moment, as men measure time, 
Into its million-million-millionth part, 
Yet even less than that the interval 
Since thou didst leave the body ; and the priest 
Cried " Subvenite," and they fell to prayer ; 
Nay, scarcely yet have they begun to pray. 

For spirits and men by different standards mete 
The less and greater in the flow of time. 
By sun and moon, primeval ordinances — 
By stars which rise and set harmoniously — . 
By the recurring seasons, and the swing, 
This way and that, of the suspended rod 
Precise and punctual, men divide the hours, 
Equal, continuous, for their common use. 



THE DEE AM OP GEBONTIUS. 311 

Not so with us in the immaterial world ; 

But intervals in their succession 

Are measured by the living thought alone 

And grow or wane with its intensity. 

And time is not a common property ; 

But what is long is short, and swift is slow, 

And near is distant, as received and grasp'd 

By this mind and by that, and by every one 

Is standard of his own chronology. 

And memory lacks its natural resting-points, 

Of years, and centuries, and periods. 

It is thy very energy of thought 

Which keeps thee from thy God. 

Soul. 

Dear Angel, say, 
Why have I now no fear at meeting Him ? 
Along my earthly life, the thought of death 
And judgment was to me most terrible. 
I had it aye before me, and I saw 
The Judge severe e'en in the Crucifix. 
Now that the hour is come, my fear is fled ; 
And at this balance of my destiny, 
Now close upon me, I can forward look 
With a serenest joy. 



312 THE DREAM OE GEEOXTIES. 

AXGEL. 

It is because 
Then thou didst fear, that now thou dost not fear, 
Thou hast forestall' d the agony, and so 
For thee the bitterness of death is past. 
Also, because already in thy soul 
The judgment is begun. That day of doom, 
One and the same for the collected world — 
That solemn consummation for all flesh, 
Is, in the case of each, anticipate 
Upon his death ; and, as the last great day 
In the particular judgment is rehearsed, 
So now, too, ere thou comest to the Throne, 
A presage falls upon thee, as a ray 
Straight from the Judge, expressive of thy lot. 
That calm and joy uprising in thy soul 
Is first-fruit to thee of thy recompense, 
And heaven begun. 

§4. 

Soul. 
But hark ! upon my sense 
Comes a fierce hubbub, which would make me fear, 
Could I be frighted. 



the deeam oe gekontttjs. 313 

Angel. 
"We are now arrived 
Close on the judgment- court ; that sullen howl 
Is from the demons who assemble there. 
It is the middle region, where of old 
Satan appeared among the sons of God, 
To cast his jibes and scoffs at holy Job. 
So now his legions throng the vestibule, 
Hungry and wild, to claim their property, 
And gather souls for hell. Hist to their cry. 

Soul. 
How sour and how uncouth a dissonance ! 

Demons. 
Low-born clods 

Of brute earth, 
They aspire 
To become gods, 

By a new birth, 
And an extra grace, 

And a score of merits, 
As if aught 
Could stand in place 



314 THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS. 

Of the high thought, 
And the glance of fire 
Of the great spirits, 
The powers blest, 

The lords by right, 

The primal owners, 

Of the proud dwelling 
And realm of light, — 
Dispossessed, 
Aside thrust, 

Chuck'd down, 
By the sheer might, 
Of a despot's will, 

Of a tyrant's frown, 
Who after expelling 
Their hosts, gave, 
Triumphant still, 

And still unjust, 

Each forfeit crown 
To psalm-droners, 
And canting groaners, 

To every slave, 
And pious cheat 

And crawling knave, 



THE DREA.M OF GEKONTIUS. 315 

Who lick'd the dust 

Under his feet 

Angel. 
It is the restless panting of their being ; 
Like beasts of prey, who, caged within their bars, 
In a deep hideous purring have their life, 
And an incessant pacing to and fro. 

Demons. 
The mind bold 

And independent, 

The purpose free, 
So we are told, 
Must not think 

To have the ascendant. 

What's a saint ? 
One whose breath 

Doth the air taint 
Before his death ; 

A bundle of bones 
Which fools adore, 

Ha! ha! 
When life is o'er ; 



316 THE DEEAM OF GERONTIUS. 

Which rattle and stink, 

E'en in the flesh. 
We cry his pardon ! 

No flesh hath he ; 
Ha! ha! 
For it hath died, 
'Tis crucified 
Day by day, 
Afresh, afresh, 

Ha ! ha ! 
That holy clay, 

Ha! ha! 
This gains guerdon, 

So priestlings prate, 
Ha! ha! 
Before the Judge, 

And pleads and atones 
For spite and grudge, 

And bigot mood, 
And envy and hate, 

And greed of blood. 



THE DREAM OF GEEONTIUS. 317 
SOUL. 

How impotent they are ! and yet on earth 
They have repute for wondrous power and skill ; 
And books describe, how that the very face 
Of the Evil One, if seen, would have a force 
Even to freeze the blood, and choke the life 
Of him who saw it. 

Angel. 
In thy trial-state 
Thou hadst a traitor nestling close at home, 
Connatural, who with the powers of hell 
Was leagued, and of thy senses kept the keys, 
And to that deadliest foe unlock'd thy heart. 
And therefore is it, in respect of man, 
Those fallen ones show so majestical. 
But, when some child of grace, Angel or Saint, 
Pure and upright in his integrity 
Of nature, meets the demons on their raid, 
They scud away as cowards from the fight. 
Nay, oft hath holy hermit in his cell, 
Not yet disburden'd of mortality, 
Mocked at their threats and warlike overtures ; 



318 THE DBEAM OF GEKONTIUS. 

Or, dying, when they swarm'd, like flies, around, 
Defied them, and departed to his Judge. 

Demons. 
Virtue and vice, 

A knave's pretence. 

'Tis all the same ; 
Ha! Ha! 

Dread of hell- fire, 
Of the venomous flame, 

A coward's plea. 
Give him his price, 

Saint though he be, 
Ha! Ha! 

From shrewd good sense 

He'll slave for hire ; 
Ha ! ha ! 

And does but aspire 
To the heaven above 

With sordid aim, 
And not from love. 

Ha ! ha ! 

Soul. 
I see not those false spirits ; shall I see 



THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS. 319 

My dearest Master, when I reach His throne ? ' 
Or hear, at least, His awful judgment- word 
With personal intonation, as I now 
Hear thee, not see thee, Angel ? Hitherto 
All has been darkness since I left the earth ; 
Shall I remain thus sight-bereft all through 
My penance-time ? If so, how comes it then 
That I have hearing still, and taste, and touch, 
! Yet not a glimmer of that princely sense 
Which binds ideas in one, and makes them live ? 

Angel. 
Nor touch, nor taste, nor hearing hast thou 

now ; 
Thou livest in a world of signs and types, 
The presentations of most holy truths, 
Living and strong, which now encompass thee. 
A disembodied soul, thou hast by right 
No converse with aught else beside thyself ; 
But, lest so stern a solitude should load 
And break thy being, in mercy are vouchsafd 
Some lower measures of perception, 
Which seem to thee, as though through channels 
brought, 



320 THE DREAM OF GEEONTIUS. 

Through ear, or nerves, or palate, which are 

gone. 
And thou art wrapp'd and swath'd around in 

dreams, 
Dreams that are true, yet enigmatical; 
For the belongings of thy present state, 
Save through such symbols, come not home to 

thee. 
And thus thou tell'st of space and time and 

size. 
Of fragrant, solid, bitter, musical, 
Or fire, and of refreshment after fire ; 
As (let me use similitude of earth, 
To aid thee in the knowledge thou dost ask) — 
As ice which blisters may be said to burn. 
Nor hast thou now extension, with its parts 
Correlative, — long habit cozens thee, — 
Nor power to move thyself, nor limbs to move. 
Hast thou not heard of those, who after loss 
Of hand or foot, still cried that they had pains 
In hand or foot, as though they had it still ? 
So is it now with thee, who hast not lost 
Thy hand or foot, but all which made up man. 
So will it be, until the joyous day 



THE DEEAM OE GEEONTIUS. 321 

Of resurrection, when thou wilt regain 
All thou hast lost, new-made and glorified. 
How, even now, the consummated Saints 
See God in heaven, I may not explicate ; 
Meanwhile, let it suffice thee to possess 
Such means of converse as are granted thee, 
Though, till that Beatific Vision, thou art blind ; 
For e'en thy purgatory, which comes like fire, 
Is fire without its light. 

Soul. 

His will be done ! 
I am not worthy e'er to see again 
The face of day ; far less His countenance, 
Who is the very sun. Natheless in life, 
When I look'd forward to my purgatory 
It ever was my solace to believe, 
That, ere I plunged amid the avenging flame, 
I had one sight of Him to strengthen me. 

Angel. 

Nor rash nor vain is that presentiment ; 
Yes, — for one moment thou shalt see thy Lord. 
Thus will it be : what time thou art arraign' d 

Y 



322 THE DRE^I OF GEEONTITJS. 

Before the dread tribunal, and thy lot 

Is cast for ever, should it be to sit 

On His right hand among His pure elect, 

Then sight, or that which to the soul is sight, 

As by a lightning-flash, will come to thee, 

And thou shalt see, amid the dark profound, 

Whom thy soul loveth, and would fain approach, — 

One moment ; but thou knowest not, my child, 

What thou dost ask : that sight of the Most Fair 

Will gladden thee, but it will pierce thee too. 

Soul. 
Thou speakest darkly, Angel ; and an awe 
Falls on me, and a fear lest I be rash. 

Angel. 
There was a mortal, who is now above 
In the mid glory : he, when near to die, 
Was given communion with the Crucified, — 
Such, that the Master's very wounds were stamp'd 
Upon his flesh ; and, from the agony 
Which thrill' d through body and soul in that 

embrace, 
Learn that the flame of the Everlasting Love 
Doth burn, ere it transform. . . . 



THE DREAM OE GERONTITTS. 323 

§ 5. 
. . . Hark to those sounds 
They come of tender beings angelical, 
Least and most childlike of the sons of God. 

First Choir oe Angelicals. 
Praise to the Holiest in the height, 

And in the depth be praise : 
In all His words most wonderful ; 

Most sure in all His ways ! 

To us His elder race He gave 

To battle and to win, 
Without the chastisement of pain, 

Without the soil of sin. 

The younger son He will'd to be 

A marvel in his birth : 
Spirit and flesh his parents were ; 

His home was heaven and earth. 

The Eternal bless'd His child, and arm'd, 

And sent him hence afar, 
To serve as champion in the field 

Of elemental war. 

t 2 



324 THE DEEAM OF GEEONTITJS. 

To be His Viceroy in the world 

Of matter, and of sense ; 
Upon the frontier, towards the foe, 

A resolute defence. 

Angel. 

We now have pass'd the gate, and are within 
The House of Judgment ; and whereas on earth 
Temples and palaces are form'd of parts 
Costly and rare, but all material, 
So in the world of spirits nought is found, 
To mould withal and form into a whole, 
But what is immaterial ; and thus 
The smallest portions of this edifice, 
Cornice, or frieze, or balustrade, or stair, 
The very pavement is made up of life — 
Of holy, blessed, and immortal beings, 
Who hymn their Maker's praise continually. 

Second Choie of Angelicals. 
Praise to the Holiest in the height, 

And in the depth be praise : 
In all His words most wonderful: 

Most sure in all His wavs ! 



THE DEE AM OE GEEONTITJS. 325 

Woe to thee, man ! for he was found 

A recreant in the fight ; 
And lost his heritage of heaven, 

And fellowship with light. 

Above him now the angry sky, 

Around the tempest's din ; 
Who once had Angels for his friends, 

Had but the brutes for kin. 

man ! a savage kindred they ; 

To flee that monster brood 
He scaled the seaside cave, and clomb 

The giants of the wood. 

With now a fear, and now a hope, 
With aids which chance supplied, 

From youth to eld, from sire to son, 
He lived, and toil'd, and died. 

He dreed his penance age by age ; 

And step by step began 
Slowly to doff his savage garb, 

And be again a man. 



32G THE DREAM OF GEROtfTIUS. 

And quicken'd by the Almighty's breath 

And chasten' d by His rod, 
And taught by angel- visitings, 

At length he sought his God ; 



And learn 9 d to call upon His Name, 

And in His faith create 
A household and a father-land, 

A city and a state. 

Glory to Him who from the mire, 

In patient length of days, 
Elaborated into life 

A people to His praise! 

Soul. 

The sound is like the rushing of the wind — 
The summer wind — among the lofty pines ; 
Swelling and dying, echoing round about. 
Now here, now distant, wild and beautiful ; 
While, scatter'd from the branches it has stirr'd, 
Descend ecstatic odours. 



the dream of gerontitjs. 327 

Third Choir op Angelicals. 
Praise to the Holiest in the height, 

And in the depth be praise : 
In all His words most wonderful; 

Most sure in all His ways! 

The Angels, as beseemingly 

To spirit-kind was given, 
At once were tried and perfected, 

And took their seats in heaven. 

For them no twilight or eclipse ; 

No growth and no decay : 
'Twas hopeless, all-ingulfing night, 

Or beatific day. 

But to the younger race there rose 

A hope upon its fall ; 
And slowly, surely, gracefully, 

The morning dawn'd on all. 

And ages, opening out, divide 

The precious and the base, 
And from the hard and sullen mass 

Mature the heirs of grace. 



328 THE DEEAM OF GEEONTIUS. 

man ! albeit the quickening ray, 

Lit from his second birth, 
Makes him at length what once he was, 

And heaven grows out of earth ; 

Yet still between that earth and heaven — 

His journey and his goal — 
A double agony awaits 

His body and his soul. 

A double debt he has to pay — 

The forfeit of his sins : 
The chill of death is past, and now 

The penance-fire begins. 

Glory to Him ; who evermore 

By truth and justice reigns ; 
Who tears the soul from out its case, 

And burns away its stains ! 

Angel. 
They sing of thy approaching agony, 
Which thou so eagerly didst question of: 
It is the face of the Incarnate God 
Shall smite thee with that keen and subtle pain ; 



THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS. , 329 

And jet the memory which it leaves will be 
A sovereign febrifuge to heal the wound ; 
And yet withal it will the wound provoke, 
And aggravate and widen it the more. 

Sottl. 
Thou speakest mysteries ; still methinks I know 
To disengage the tangle of thy words : 
Yet rather would I hear thy angel voice, 
Than for myself be thy interpreter. 

Angel. 
When then — if such thy lot — thou seest thy Judge, 
The sight of Him will kindle in thy heart 
All tender, gracious, reverential thoughts. £ — -•» 
Thou wilt be sick with love, and yearn for Him, 
And feel as though thou couldst but pity Him, 
That one so sweet should e'er have placed Himself 
At disadvantage such, as to be used 
So vilely by a being so vile as thee. 
There is a pleading in His pensive eyes 
Will pierce thee to the quick, and trouble thee. 
And thou wilt hate and loathe thyself ; for, though 
Now sinless, thou wilt feel that thou hast sinn'd, 



330 THE DREAM OF GERONTITTS. 

As never thou didst feel ; and wilt desire 

To slink away, and hide thee from His sight: 

And yet wilt have a longing aye to dwell 

Within the beauty of His countenance. 

And these two pains, so counter and so keen, — 

The longing for Him, when thou seest Him not ; 

The shame of self at thought of seeing Him, — 

Will be thy veriest, sharpest purgatory. 

Sotjl. 
My soul is in my hand : I have no fear, — 
In His dear might prepared for weal or woe. 
But hark ! a grand, mysterious harmony : 
It floods me, like the deep and solemn sound 
Of many waters. 

Angel. 
We have gain'd the stairs 
Which rise towards the Presence-chamber ; there 
A band of mighty Angels keep the way 
On either side, and hymn the Incarnate God. 

Angels of the Sacred Stair. 
Father, whose goodness none can know, but they 
Who see Thee face to face, 



THE DREAM OE GERONTITJS. 331 

By man hath come the infinite display 

Of Thy victorious grace ; 
But fallen man — the creature of a day — 

Skills not that love to trace. 
It needs, to tell the triumph Thou hast wrought, 
An Angel's deathless fire, an Angel's reach of 
thought. 

It needs that very Angel, who with awe, 

Amid the garden shade, 
The great Creator in His sickness saw, 

Soothed by a creature's aid, 
And agonized, as victim of the Law 

Which He Himself had made ; 
For who can praise Him in His depth and height, 
But he who saw Him reel amid 

that solitary fight. 

Sotjl. 
Hark ! for the lintels of the presence-gate 
Are vibrating and echoing back the strain. 

FOTJETH CHOIE OE AnGELICALS. 

Praise to the Holiest in the height, 
And in the depth be praise ; 



332 THE DBEAM OF GERONTIUS. 

In all His words most wonderful ; 
Most sure in all His ways ! 

The foe blasphemed the Holy Lord, 

As if He reckon'd ill, 
In that He placed His puppet man 

The frontier place to fill. 

For, even in his best estate, 
With amplest gifts endued, 

A sorry sentinel was he, 
A being of flesh and blood. 

As though a thing, who for his help 

Must needs possess a wife, 
Could cope with those proud rebel hosts 

Who had angelic life. 

And when, by blandishment of Eve, 
That earth-born Adam fell, 

He shriek'd in triumph, and he cried, 
" A sorry sentinel ; 

" The Maker by His word is bound, 
Escape or cure is none ; 



THE DREAM OP GERONTITTS. 333 

He must abandon to his doom, 
And slay His darling son." 



Angel. 

And now the threshold, as we traverse it. 
Utters aloud its glad responsive chant. 

Fifth Choir of Afgelicals. 

Praise to the Holiest in the height, 
And in the depth be praise : 

In all His words most wonderful ; 
Most sure in all His ways! 

loving wisdom of our God ! 

When all was sin and shame, 
A second Adam to the fight 

And to the rescue came. 

wisest love ! that flesh and blood 
Which did in Adam fail, 

Should strive afresh against their foe, 
Should strive and should prevail ; 



334 THE DREAM OE GERONTIUS. 

And that a higher gift than grace 
Should flesh and blood refine, 

God's Presence and His very Self, 
And Essence all-divine. 

generous love ! that He who smote 

In man for man the foe, 
The double agony in man 

For man should undergo ; 

And in the garden secretly, 
And on the cross on high, 

Should teach His brethren and inspire 
To suffer and to die. 



§6. 

Angel. 

Thy judgment now is near, for we are come 
Into the veiled presence of our God. 

Soul. 
I hear the voices that I left on earth. 



THE DBEAM OP GERONTIUS. 335 

ANGEL. 

It is the voice of friends around thy bed, 

Who say the " Subvenite " with the priest. 

Hither the echoes come ; before the Throne 

Stands the great Angel of the Agony, 

The same who strengthen' d Him, what time He 

knelt 
Lone in that garden shade, bedew'd with blood. 
That Angel best can plead with Him for all 
Tormented souls, the dying and the dead. 



Angel oe the Agony. 

by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee; 
by that cold dismay which sicken' d Thee ; 
by that pang of heart which thrill'd in Thee ; 
by that mount of sins which crippled Thee ; 
by that sense of guilt which stifled Thee ; 
by that innocence which girdled Thee ; 
by that sanctity which reign' d in Thee ; 
by that Godhead which was one with Thee ; 
spare these souls which are so dear to Thee, 



336 THE DEE AM OF GEB01STIUS. 

Hasten, Lord, their hour, and bid them come to 

Thee, 
To that glorious Home, where they shall ever gaze 

on Thee. 

Soul. 
I go before my Judge. Ah ! . . . . 



Angel. 
.... Praise to His Name ! 
<- C The eager spirit has darted from my hold, 
And, with the intemperate energy of love, 
Flies to the dear feet of Emmanuel ; 
But, ere it reach them, the keen sanctity, 
Which with its effluence, like a glory, clothes 
And circles round the Crucified, has seized, 
And scorch'd, and shrivell'd it ; and now it lies 
Passive and still before the awful Throne. 
happy, suffering soul ! for it is safe, 
Consumed, yet quicken'd, by the glance of God. 

Soul. 

Take me away, and in the lowest deep 
There let me be, 



THE DREAM OF GEEONTIUS. 337 

i 

And there in hope the lone night-watches keep, 

Told out for me. 
There, motionless and happy in my pain, 

Lone, not forlorn, — 
There will I sing my sad perpetual strain, 

Until the morn. 
There will I sing, and soothe my stricken breast, 

Which ne'er can cease 
To throb, and pine, and languish, till possest 

Of its Sole Peace. 
There will I sing my absent Lord and Love : — 

Take me away, 
That sooner I may rise, and go above, 
And see Him in the truth of everlasting day. 

§ 7. 
Angel. 
Now let the golden prison ope its gates, 
Making sweet music, as each fold revolves 
Upon its ready hinge. And ye, great powers, 
Angels of Purgatory, receive from me 
My charge, a precious soul, until the day, — — r?r 6 ^ 
When, from all bond and forfeiture released, 
I shall reclaim it for the courts of light. J 



338 THE DRE^I OF GERO^TIUS. 

Souls m Purgatory. 

1. Lord, Thou hast been our refuge : in every 

generation ; 

2. Before the hills were born, and the world was: 

from age to age Thou art God. 

3. Bring us not, Lord, very low: for Thou hast 

said, Come back again, ye sons of Adam. 

4>. A thousand years before Thine eyes are but 
as yesterday : and as a watch of the night 
which is come and gone. 

5. The grass springs up in the morning : at 

evening-tide it shrivels up and dies. 

6. So we fail in Thine anger : and in Thy wrath 

are we troubled. 

7. Thou hast set our sins in Thy sight : and our 

round of days in the light of Thy countenance. 

8. Come back, Lord ! how long : and be entreated 

for Thy servants. 

9. In Thy morning we shall be filled with Thy 

mercy : we shall rejoice and be in pleasure all 

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THE DEEAM OF GEKONTIUS. 339 

10. We shall be glad according to the days of our 

humiliation : and the years in which we have 
seen evil. 

11. Look, Lord, upon Thy servants and on Thy 

work : and direct their children. 

12. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be 
upon us : and the work of our hands, establish 
Thou it 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the 

Holy Ghost. 
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall 

be : world without end. Amen. 

W" 

Angel. 
,J 
Softly and gently, dearly-ransom'd soul, 

In my most loving arms I now enfold thee, 

And, o'er the penal waters, as they roll, 

I poise thee, and I lower thee, and hold thee. 

And carefully I dip thee in the lake, 

And thou, without a sob or a resistance, 

Dost through the flood thy rapid passage take, 

Sinking deep, deeper, into the dim distance. 



°A0 



THE DEEAM OF GEEONTIUS. 



Angels, to whom the willing task is given, 

Shall tend, and nurse, and lull thee, as thou 
liest ; 
And Masses on the earth, and prayers in heaven, 
Shall aid thee at the Throne of the Most 
Highest. 

Farewell, but not for ever ! brother dear, 

Be brave and patient on thy bed of sorrow ; 

Swiftly shall pass thy night of trial here, 

And I will come and wake thee on the morrow. 

The Oratory. January, 1865. 





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